Machine Shop Safety
Tony Cygan
The purpose of this program is to prevent injuries which may occur in a shop environment. The information included in this document shall be used by supervisors to create a shop safety program. The program is oriented towards work in student and employee shops, but many requirements also apply to work performed outside of formal shop environments.
Program Applicability
The Machine Shop Safety Program applies to all rooms that house shop equipment and are used for student instruction, the completion of academic tasks or assignments, or the performance of work tasks by Penn State employees. The program covers machine shops across Penn State facilities where equipment is used to support instruction, research, or operations and where employees or students may be exposed to mechanical hazards associated with shop equipment.
Program Requirements
The Machine Shop Safety Program establishes minimum requirements to reduce the risk of injury through training, supervision, equipment safeguards, and inspections.
Supervisor Responsibilities
- Supervisors must understand the requirements of the Machine Shop Safety Program and ensure that all program provisions are implemented within their shops. Supervisors are responsible for investigating injuries and incidents involving shop equipment in their work units.
Employee Responsibilities
- Employees must comply with all program requirements, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and machine guarding, and must promptly report any safety concerns related to shop equipment or shop or laboratory safety to their supervisor or faculty member.
Training Requirements
- Training follows a three‑step process consisting of:
- Review of General Shop Information
- General Shop Safety Training
- Equipment‑Specific Training
- Retraining is required when workplace or equipment changes make previous training obsolete, when unsafe equipment use is observed, or when an accident or near‑miss occurs.
Monitoring Requirements
- Work units must provide adequate monitoring of shop activities to reduce the risk of injury. Monitors must be designated in accordance with program requirements.
Machine Guarding Requirements
- All shop equipment must be properly guarded to prevent injuries.
Inspection Requirements
- Shop supervisors must perform and document inspections twice per year.
Recordkeeping Requirements
- Work units must maintain records of all training and inspections.
Documents and Forms
Program:
- Machine Shop Safety Program
Procedure:
- Robot Safeguarding and Safe Setup Requirements
Form:
- General Shop Information (Appendix B)
- General Shop Safety Training (Appendix C)
- Equipment Specific Safety Training (Appendix D)
Additional Resources
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- 29 CFR 1910 Subpart O – Machinery and Machine Guarding
- 29 CFR 1910 Subpart P – Hand and Portable Powered Tools and Other Hand‑Held Equipment
- Applicable ANSI safety standards related to machine guarding