Ask the Stamping Expert: Should light curtains stop a press even if it is traveling up?

Q: We have some manual presses set up in a single part load-and-stamp production mode. The press is equipped with light curtains. When the operator activates the press buttons, he has to wait until the tool runs through the entire press cycle before he can reach into the work area. If he tries to reach into the work area before the press has finished the cycle, the light curtains stop the press, even if the press is on its way up.

A: The short answer is yes. It is a requirement. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements are very detailed. And if you have ever been audited, you know they are very strict about adherence to policy.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would just like to make sure you are in full OSHA compliance, I would recommend that you hire a professional to perform an audit and give you advice. If you are ever audited and found to be noncompliant with the federal guidelines, the results can be as small as a notice of correction, which gives you a number of days to correct the situation, or as big as large fines and even temporary closure of your company until the noncompliance is corrected.

In your situation, your presses must be guarded on all sides. There should be no point at which a person can physically fit his hand into the press where moving machine parts could cause severe injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands.

In fact, light guards must be installed far enough away from pinch points so that an operator using dual palm buttons for press activation cannot try to put his hand in the tool quickly without stopping the press. By law, you need to calculate the speed of the ram and place the light curtain far enough away to make that scenario impossible. This applies even to the back of the machine.

Light curtains must stop the press if something or someone blocks the beams, even if the press is going up. It is not permitted—or safe—to install the light curtains so that they stop the press for interference when the press is going down, but bypass them when the press is going up, even to try to produce more parts.

Worker safety must be paramount. Any production issues must be secondary.

You can find more information about OSHA regulations at www.osha.gov/law-regs.html. If you have specific questions, you can contact your regional office (see www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html) or call 800-321-6742.

Good luck, and happy, safe stamping!