machinery and equipment | Warren Forensics

Tag Archive: machinery and equipment

The Role of Interlocking Guards in Injury Prevention
November 16, 2020 2:48 pm Leave a Comment
In the three-part series on the CE mark, we scratched the surface of some of the requirements an equipment manufacturer must meet in order to earn this designation. Part three of the series dealt with some of the requirements for the design of a guard. One of the items for consideration with the design of a guard is the frequency that someone will need to access the area protected by the guard. If access is needed on a routine basis, often defined as more than once per shift, the guard needs to be designed to be movable instead of fixed. Movable is defined as able to be opened without the use of tools. Otherwise the frustration and time requirements of obtaining tools and removing a fixed guard will often lead to the guard being discarded. (more…)
What’s Behind That CE Mark Part Three, Machine Guard Requirements
September 1, 2020 10:16 am Leave a Comment
In the first blog in this series, we discussed the story behind the CE mark, the Machinery Directive, and the associated requirements regarding the design, production, and sale of machinery bearing the mark. The second blog discussed a cornerstone of safer machine design, the risk assessment. This installment will discuss another crucial piece of the safety puzzle, machine guard design. (more…)
Load Holding Valves in Hydraulic Cranes
August 10, 2020 4:11 pm Leave a Comment
Hydraulic cranes absolutely rely on the integrity of their high-pressure fluid systems for safe operation. A crane can become out of level when an outrigger cylinder leaks over time, possibly leading to a tip over. A boom can collapse if a hydraulic hose ruptures. It is not possible to absolutely prevent hydraulic cylinders from developing leaks or prevent hoses from rupturing during the life of a typical crane, therefore crane manufacturers provide load holding valves at key components to prevent these dangerous incidents. In fact, ASME B30.5, Mobile and Locomotive Cranes, requires load holding valves or equivalent devices at outrigger cylinders, boom support cylinders, and boom telescoping cylinders. (more…)
The CE Mark and What Should It Mean to You? Part Two
July 20, 2020 2:58 pm Leave a Comment
In the previous blog (Part One) we discussed the backstory behind the two stylized letters CE and what it means to the design of machinery bearing the mark. We outlined some of the requirements of the “Machinery Directive” (MD) which include what are known as “Essential Health and Safety Requirements.” The Essential Health and Safety Requirements incorporate an iterative risk reduction process during design that takes into account (more…)
Ammonia – The Good, The Bad, The Smelly… Part One
June 22, 2020 2:52 pm Leave a Comment
Ammonia is a compound consisting of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms and is denoted by the formula NH₃. Its boiling point is -28°F at atmospheric pressure, so unless it is under pressure, it is gaseous at room temperatures. Therefore, pure ammonia is typically stored under pressure in a liquid form. Household ammonia is only 5-10% NH3, the remaining 90-95% is water. Ammonia is extremely soluble in water. It is often depicted like this: (more…)
Crane Incident Handbook
April 28, 2020 3:15 am Leave a Comment
Cranes are powerful lifting devices that we see everyday in construction areas, shipping terminals, and industrial sites. They are so common that we often pass by them with little thought. Cranes, however, can sometimes become involved in incidents that injure people or damage equipment. (more…)
Failure to Maintain Tow Hook Latch Results in Bystander Death
March 27, 2020 12:02 pm Leave a Comment
An unfortunate and tragic case that we investigated involved a commercial “rollback” recovery truck that was being used to transport a four-wheel drive diesel pickup. The diesel pickup was not in running order with its’ engine in the bed of the truck. Consequently, a commercial towing company was hired by the truck owner to transport the truck. In the process of loading the truck onto the rollback, the truck came uncoupled from the winch and cable system. The truck then rolled down the inclined bed of the rollback, running over and killing a bystander. (more…)
Hail Isn’t Cool
November 21, 2019 4:10 pm Leave a Comment
Hail property damage is frequently reported after an HVAC service call. Building owners are often unaware there is damage until the power bill starts trending higher and the HVAC system is simply not cooling effectively. Take look at the fins! The National Weather Service reported over $722 million in property damage from hail in 2018. Based on NWS data, hail caused more property damage than tornadoes or thunderstorms. Only Tropical Storms/Hurricanes at $12 billion, coastal storms at $1 billion and flooding at $1 billion were more costly than hail to property.

One of the items very susceptible to damage is the HVAC system. The heat that is removed from the interior of a building must be rejected to the environment. As such the HVAC system is placed where it can have unhindered access to outdoor air in order to function properly. This often results in the unit being placed in a large open space such as a rooftop, making it susceptible to damage such as hail. (more…)
Machine Guarding and Risk Assessment
August 19, 2019 9:00 am Leave a Comment
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) “Top 10 for 2018” violations once again have Machine Safeguarding earning a position on the list. Machine safeguarding was the 9^th most cited standard as noted in the list below:
1. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
2. Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
3. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
4. Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
5. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
6. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)]
7. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
8. Fall Protection–Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503
9. Machinery and Machine Guarding, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212)
10. Eye and Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102)
(Source: www.osha.gov/Top_Ten_Standards.html)

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Case Study: Fatality Servicing Unsupported Excavator Boom
April 22, 2019 2:27 pm Leave a Comment
A mini-excavator at a job site developed a leak at a hydraulic fitting at the base of the cylinder that raises and lowers the boom. A subcontractor foreman at the site raised the boom to search for the leak. The foreman found and attempted to tighten the leaking fitting. When he did, the fitting separated from the base of the cylinder, releasing the hydraulic pressure that held the boom aloft. The boom fell and the bucket struck a nearby superintendent for the general contractor.

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