Employers are required to furnish a safe work environment for employees, and this includes the provision of safe machinery and equipment for work. A safe machine is one that has a minimal risk of causing injuries or accidents to workers, and includes the presence of appropriate safeguards in the form of barriers and devices that can prevent injuries.

Examples of unsafe machinery in the work place include

• Machinery with an exposed flywheel
• Equipment with an unguarded cutter, blade, pulley belt or emery wheel
• Electrical machinery that is improperly insulated, or has loose or exposed wires, or insufficient grounding
• Equipment with powered doors that lack warning alarms, or other safety mechanisms
• Derricks or cranes that are defective or poorly maintained
• Machinery with rotating or moving parts, including food slicers, meat grinders, wood chippers, logging equipment, grinding tools, or punching machines

Preventing Unsafe Machinery Injuries

The operation of machinery that lacks effective safety devices or components can result in accidents leading to amputation injuries, crushing injuries, or even death.

• Any unsafe machinery in the work place must be properly guarded, so that workers are discouraged from entering the work area.
• There must be effective safeguards that prevent workers from putting their hands into dangerous points of operation inside the machine.
• Workers who are responsible for operating the machine must be provided protective equipment, including hand safety gear and special footwear that minimizes the risk of injuries.
• Special attention to workers' safety must be paid not only during the operation of the machinery, but also during other tasks like maintenance, cleaning or repair work on the machine.
• There must be proper procedures in place that ensure that machines have their power supply turned off during routine maintenance and cleaning tasks.
• Non-essential personnel must be restricted from entry into work areas that contain pieces of unsafe machinery.
• Any malfunction or fault in a machine must be repaired as soon as it is observed, and the equipment must be removed from service until all repairs have been completed.

Employers may not be able to avoid having large and potentially dangerous machinery in the workplace, but they are required to install safety devices, train workers in the use of dangerous machinery, provide for a clear view of the work area, and post warning signs to maintain a safe working environment. So, for example, having a large hydraulic press in a plant does not itself violate any safety standards, but the failure to provide guards to cover dangerous parts of the equipment can be a violation.