Punch Press Operator
Killed By Knockouts

A 43-year-old female machine operator died while operating a mechanical punch press in June, 1998. When the punch press operates, small sections of the metal sheet, called knockout, slugs, or scrap, drop below the press and accumulate in a scrap tray directly below the die. This tray must be periodically emptied to prevent buildup of scrap and mulfunction of the machine. The incident occurred on the first day the woman worked on that press. She received training on operating the press but was not instructed properly in scrap removal. Since the scrap was not cleaned out, it accumulated below the die. During one cycle, the punch press struck a pile of slugs ejecting them towards the operator, striking the victim several times in the neck with the remaining pieces scattered on the floor. The scrap tray had been removed, therefore there was nothing to stop the metal pieces from hitting the operator. Since the woman was tired and hot that day, she had put a chair in front of the press to sit on, putting herself in a more dangerous position. The purpose of guarding was defeated, since the scrap tray was not used to guard the point of operation. The victim was transported to a local hospital and died in the emergency room.

1. Machines must be guarded as specified in 29CFR 1910.

• In this case, the purpose of guarding was defeated and scrap was not removed properly.
• Guards or fixed barriers may be attached to the frame, die, or base of a press to prevent the operator from the point of operation.
• Employers must provide one or more methods of machine guarding to protect operators
  

2. Designate a competent person to conduct frequent and regular site safety inspections.

• Regular inspections of the work site ensure that safety procedures are being followed.
• Inspections demonstrate the employer's commitment to safety and prevention of injuries.
• Scheduled and unscheduled inspections of the jobsite, materials, and equipment should be conducted to identify hazardous conditions.
• In this case, regular inspections would have shown the punch press guarding was not adequate.
  

3. Develop, implement, and enforce a written safety program.

• The safety program should include task-specific safety procedures and employee training.
• In this case, the victim previously worked at the facility, therefore re-training was necessary.
• Employees should work under close supervision of a designated person until they are able to demonstrate the ability to safely perform their new job independently.