Saturday 23 April 2016

Non-Mechanical Hazards Associated with Machinery

Electricity – used as the energy source as most of the machineries are motor-driven, for example, pedestal drilling machine, photocopier etc.,



Fire and Explosion – flammable substances may be used either as working substances in a closed system, or as fuel or lubricant, for example, ue of flammable refrigerants (propane, butane) in refrigeration system, diesel in engine driven pumps.

Noise – Excessive sound generated by the moving parts of the machinery or the equipment may be operating on compressed air and/or release energy with sound. For example – generators, turbines, cement mixers, etc.,


Vibration - perhaps the machinery is not securely installed on suitable anti-vibration mounts or it may be a hand vibrating tool, for example pneumatically operated concrete breakers.

Hazardous chemicals – substance hazardous to health may be released in the machinery operation as emissions or may be used in the machinery as raw material. for example – cement in cement mixers, carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion of IC engine


 Manual handling – machinery operations may involve loading raw material unloading finished product etc., with extreme manual effort. For example – loading of cement, sand and aggregate and unloading of concrete mortar from cement mixer

Biological hazard – machineries may have water systems which may get infected by biological agents, for example cooling tower in refrigeration system

Ergonomic hazard - operation and maintenance of certain machineries may sometimes put workers in awkward posture, for example overreaching for controls, continuous kneeling for certain maintenance work in automobiles

Fall hazard - machinery operation may require to work at height, leading to fall from working platforms or falls on the same level perhaps due to contaminated floor by spillages/ leaks from machinery.


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