Minnesota OSHA issues hazard alert on power presses

St. Paul, MN – Power press operators should wear proper eye, hand and feet protection to avoid potential hazards created by their work, Minnesota OSHA warns in a recently issued safety hazard alert.

Such personal protective equipment can keep employees safe when handling metal parts or scrap, which the alert notes can have sharp edges.

Additionally, parts and scrap can shoot out of the press while the machine is running, which can lead to injury or death. The most preferred way to reduce this hazard, the alert recommends, is to have the parts automatically eject into separate containers. This also will reduce the amount of scrap being handled by the operator.

Although most power press hazards are associated with point-of-operation guarding and noise, Minnesota OSHA said it chose to focus on ejection because it is a lesser-known hazard.