A revised guide to help employers prevent amputations was issued March 15 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA).  The guide, "Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees from Amputations," identifies eight mechanical motions and eight hazardous actions associated with the operation and care of machines that present possible amputation hazards, the agency said. The OSHA guide also describes steps employers can take to reduce the hazards. Topics covered in the latest document include hazard analysis, safeguarding machinery, awareness devices, and hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).

 

Amputations are among the most severe and disabling workplace injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were 8,5430 non-fatal amputations involving days away from work in private industry in 2005.  OSHA issued the guide as part of its National Emphasis Program on Amputations. The guide is available on the OSHA Web site at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3170.pdf