* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFORMATION ALERT * * * * Produced by: Ontario Ministry of Labour * * Provided by: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFO ALERT: 16 DATE: March 4, 1991 *** HAZARD SUMMARY: *** CRITICAL INJURY - "HEIM" PUNCH PRESS A worker was critically injured due to improper lock out procdures on a "HEIM" 400 ton Punch Press. A check valve had been added to the pressurized air system used to control this punch press. This permitted storage of unwanted energy which caused the machine to cycle. *** LOCATION(S) AND SECTOR(S) WHERE HAZARD MAY BE ENCOUNTERED *** Manufacturing operations that use punch presses. *** APPLICABLE SECTION(S) OF INDUSTRIAL REGULATIONS *** Section 79 of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments requires that: "A part of a machine .. shall be cleaned, oiled, adjusted, repaired or have maintenance work performed on it only when, (a) motion that may endanger a worker has stopped; and (b) any part that has been stopped and that may subsequently move and endanger a worker has been blocked to prevent its movement." Section 80 of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments requires that: "Where the starting of a machine ... may endanger the safety of a worker, (a) control switches or other control mechanisms shall be locked out; and (b) other effective precautions necessary to prevent such starting shall be taken." *** SUGGESTED PRECAUTIONS **** This critical injury would have been prevented if appropriate lock out procedures had been in place and followed. The manufacturer also suggested that the check valve be removed and the existing air regulator be replaced with a watt regulator which contains a diaphragm which cannot be ruptured by high air return pressure from the accumulator. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTE: "Information Alert" is produced by the Industrial Health and Safety Branch, Ministry of Labour. The goal of this publication is to communicate hazard information as soon as it becomes available to prevent serious injury to workers. Reproduction and use of these alerts is encouraged.