Subchapter A. POWER, FOOT AND HAND COLD METAL PRESSES
GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec.
29.1. Definitions.
29.2. Scope.
29.3. Penalty.
GENERAL HAZARDS
29.11. All installations.
29.12. New installations.
29.13. Existing installations.
HAZARDS AT POINT OF OPERATION
29.21. All installations.
Authority The provisions of this Subchapter A issued under the act of June 2, 1913 (P. L. 396, No. 267) (71 P. S. § § 1441—1451); and section 15 of the act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. § 25-15), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter A adopted November 1, 1926; amended through August 1, 1968, unless otherwise noted.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 29.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Automatic feeding—Placing material under the ram by a mechanically actuated device that does not require the attention of an operator at each stroke of the ram.
Foot press—A machine, operated by footpower, used for the same purposes as a power press on cold metal.
Gate guard—A barrier, completely enclosing the point of operation, which is operated by the tripping device of the press before the ram descends and which does not permit the ram to descend until the hand of the operator has been removed to a safe distance.
Hand press—A machine, operated by handpower, used for the same purposes as a power press on cold metal.
Knockout, kickout, or ejector—Any mechanical device for removing material.
Manual feeding—Placing material under the ram by hand or by hand tools.
Power press—A machine, operated by power, fitted with one or more rams (plungers) and dies for blanking, trimming, drawing, punching, or stamping cold metal. This term includes plate shears and plate punches, but it does not include bulldozers, hot metal presses, hammers, bending presses or brakes, power screw or feeding presses, air presses or hydraulic presses.
Ram—The moving part of the press which is sometimes called plunger, slide, gate, or mandrel.
Semi-automatic feeding—Placing material under the ram by some mechanical device or special die which is fed by an operator at each stroke of the ram.
Two-hand device—An arrangement, whenever the hands are used instead of or in connection with the feet to trip the press, so constructed that the simultaneous action of both hands is required at a point away from the point of feed.§ 29.2. Scope.
This Subchapter sets forth rules to safeguard the lives, limbs, and health of workers operating power, foot and hand cold metal presses, and places the responsibility of complying with such rules upon both employer and employe.
§ 29.3. Penalty.
Any person who violates this subchapter or any regulations of the Department or who interferes with the Department or its duly authorized representative in the enforcement of this subchapter or regulations shall be penalized under section 15 of act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. § 25-15).
GENERAL HAZARDS
§ 29.11. All installations.
(a) Foundation. Each press shall be placed on a substantial foundation, floor, or other support and securely fastened or anchored in place.
(b) Location. All presses shall be so located as to provide the following:
(1) Enough clearance between machines so that the movement of one operator does not interfere with the work of another.
(2) Ample room for cleaning machines and handling the work, including material and scrap.
(3) Aisles of sufficient width to permit the free movement of employes bringing and removing material. All surrounding floors and flooring shall be kept in good condition and free from obstructions and grease.
(c) Lighting. Presses shall be so located, with respect to sources of both natural and artificial light, that light of sufficient intensity falls on the work. It is recommended that direct or reflected glare, and shadows, including moving shadows, be avoided.
(d) Belts, pulleys, gears and shafts. Belts, pulleys, gears, and shafts shall be guarded in accordance with the requirements of Subchapter C (relating to mechanical power transmission apparatus).
(e) Switches. Switches and other electrical apparatus shall be guarded in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 39, Subchapter B (relating to electric safety).
(f) Feeding mechanisms. Gears and feed rolls on press feeding mechanisms shall be guarded in accordance with the requirements of Subchapter C (relating to mechanical power transmission apparatus).
(g) Protection. If the nature of the operation or the kind of material used may create a hazard from flying particles, a shield, goggles, or other means of head or eye protection shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 39, Subchapter C (relating to head and eye protection).
§ 29.12. New installations.
Disconnection of power. Each power press shall be provided with means for disconnecting all power from the press and from the pulley on the press. Any of the following methods may be used:
(1) An individual motor drive capable of disconnecting such power from the press. If the switch or starter is so constructed and located that the motor may be accidentally started, provision shall be made to permit locking or latching in the ‘‘off’’ position.
(2) Tight and loose pulleys on a countershaft with a belt shifter which may be locked or latched in the off position.
(3) Belt perch or idler pulleys to facilitate throwing belts off and on the drive pulley.
(4) A clutch on the drive pulley, with a clutch handle that can be locked or latched in the ‘‘off’’ position. It is recommended that large presses, such as friction clutch presses, have some provision for stopping the press instantly at any point of the stroke.
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 29.13 (relating to existing installations).
§ 29.13. Existing installations.
The means of disconnecting power as set forth in § 29.12 (relating to new installations) may be required on existing presses when, in the opinion of the Department, operating conditions justify it.
HAZARDS AT POINT OF OPERATION
§ 29.21. All installations.
(a) Methods of guarding. Except when operators use both hands to handle stock which is of such size that it is impossible to get their hands under the die, means of safeguarding the press at the point of operation shall be provided and used on each press in accordance with the following table, depending on the method of feeding the press:
GUARDS FOR POINT OF OPERATION
Method of Feeding Press Safeguarding Required (1) Manual (A) Enclosure of ram [§ 29.21(b)]; or (B) Limitation of ram stroke [§ 29.2(c)]; or (C) Gate guard [§ 29.21(d)]; or (D) Two-hand tripping device [§ 29.21(d)]; or (E) Sweep guard [§ 29.21(d)]; or (F) When the preceding preferred methods are not employed, special handtools may be used for holding or placing the material [§ 29.21(e)]. (2) Semi-automatic 1. Chute feed (A) Enclosure of ram [§ 29.21(b)]; 2. Slide feed or 3. Sliding dies (B) Limitation of ram stroke [§ 29.21(c)]; 4. Dial feed or 5. Revolving dies (C) Gate guard [§ 29.21(d)]. (3) Automatic 1. Automatic roll feed (A) Enclosure of ram [§ 29.21(b)]; or 2. Automatic push or pull feed (B) Limitation of ram stroke [§ 29.21(c)]; or 3. Automatic plunger feed (C) Gate guard [§ 29.21(d)].
(b) Enclosure of ram. If the press is safeguarded by enclosing the ram, the enclosure shall be substantially constructed. The opening between the bottom of the enclosure and the work or working surface shall not exceed 3/8 inch. The top of the enclosure shall extend at least as high as the upper limit of travel of the ram. There shall be no dangerous shear points between the guard and any moving part. Openings in the guard shall not exceed 1/2 inch, if within four inches of any moving point; if farther away than four inches, openings shall not exceed two square inches in area.
(c) Ram stroke. If the press is safeguarded by limiting the ram stroke, the stroke of the ram shall be such that the clearance between the ram and die or stripper shall not exceed 3/8 inch.
(d) Guards and devices. If the press is safeguarded by a gate guard, a two-hand tripping device, or a sweep guard, such guards or devices shall be of an approved type and conform with the following specifications:
(1) Each such guard or device shall be simple and reliable in construction, application, and adjustment. It shall be permanently attached by cap screws or through bolts to the press frame. It shall not offer any accident hazard. It shall be designed and constructed to minimize the possibility of removing or misusing essential parts and to facilitate inspection of such parts.
(2) Each guard or device shall be so designed and constructed that no part of the hand of the operator is within the danger zone while the ram is descending. Two-hand tripping devices shall be so arranged as to prevent tying, locking, wedging, or otherwise securing one handle or button and operating the press with the other hand only, except by the use of a key which shall be kept only in the possession of the foreman.
(3) On slow acting presses each guard or device shall be arranged so as not to permit the operator to place his hand in the danger zone after the press has been tripped and while the ram is still descending.
(4) The openings in gate guards shall be not greater than specified in subsection (b). This requirement applies also to sweep guards which consist of a sliding gate or enclosure.
(5) Unless the guard or device is directly connected to the ram (for example, a sweep guard), a nonrepeat attachment shall be provided by which the tread or operating lever is disconnected after each stroke and a positive stop is introduced to stop the press. The nonrepeat attachment shall not be dependent upon the action of any spring except a compression spring operation in or on a closely fitting barrel or rod and so wound that the space between coils is less than the diameter of the wire. Such nonrepeat attachment, however, is not required for a gate guard so constructed as to insure its being in place to offer full protection if the press should repeat because of riding the treadle or breakage of the latch return spring. A nonrepeat attachment may be so arranged that it may be rendered inoperative in case continuous operation is desired, if for such operation the press is otherwise safeguarded as specified in subsection (a).
(6) Gate guards which are attached to the ram and which move downward so that the hand of the operator may be caught between gate and lower die are prohibited.
(e) Handtools. Handtools for placing and removing material shall permit easy handling of material without requiring the operator to place his hand in the danger zone. Such tools shall be accepted in lieu of a guard only when the preferred methods listed in subsection (c) are not employed and when the use of the tools is strictly enforced by the employer.
(f) Treadle guard. Each foot-operated power press shall conform with any of the following:
(1) A substantial guard shall be placed over the treadle to prevent accidental tripping.
(2) An equally effective special design of treadle shall be used.
(3) The treadle shall be located within the frame of the machine. Guards for treadles other than long bars extending across the machine shall be not more than twice the width of the foot.
(g) Latch. Hand-operated power presses shall be equipped with a spring latch on the lever to prevent accidental or premature tripping.
(h) Interlocking device. Each hand-operated power press, if tended by more than one person, shall have an interlocking lever or similar device controlled by the helper to prevent accidental or premature tripping.
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