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| Yale Undergraduate Killed in Incident Involving Lathe |
A Yale undergraduate was tragically killed when her hair became caught in a lathe she was using at the university. Michele Dufault, 22, who was majoring in astronomy and physics, was working in a machine shop in a chemistry lab when the incident occurred. She died as a result of asphyxia due to neck compression.
The university says access to the machine shop in the chemistry department is limited to those who have taken an introductory shop course. Safety precautions posted online warn students to tie up long hair or long beards. Dufault was said to be well aware of necessary machinery safeguards.
How to Reduce the Risk of Entanglement
Entanglement in a machine can happen instantly. Long hair or loose clothing can catch on a rotating surface and – faster than anyone could possibly react – the victim is dragged into the moving machinery. Remind your workers to follow these 5 tips to reduce their risk of entanglement:
1. Wear snug clothing. When working around moving machinery, button sleeves and tuck in shirts and pant legs. Avoid wearing scarves and drawstrings. Be aware that even gloves can get entangled.
2. Don't wear jewelry. The hazards of wearing neck chains and dangling jewelry while working around rotating machine parts are obvious. However, even a ring can catch in rotating equipment. That can cause amputation of a finger or result in worse injury.
3. Restrain hair. If you have long hair, tie it or restrain it with a hairnet. If hair is simply tucked inside a hardhat, it can come loose and get caught in moving parts. Even a long beard can be a hazard in a machine work environment.
4. Keep machinery guarded. Make sure all equipment is properly guarded to prevent entanglement and other machine injuries. Report any missing or defective guards and shields to your supervisor. Never remove or block a machine guard. When doing adjustments or repairs, follow the correct lockout and tagout procedures and replace guards before returning the machine to service.
5. Know the controls. Know how to quickly locate the emergency stop and start controls on all machinery in your work area.
Almost every worker is exposed to the hazards from machinery in some fashion, so all workers should receive at least a basic introduction to machinery safety. They should have an understanding of the hazards associated with operating machinery or working in areas where it is operating so they know what to watch for and how to report a hazard. And since operating machinery poses a significant risk to a worker, annual refresher training is a best practice even if it is as simple as a Tool Box Talk, such as any one of these in SafetySmart.
Want to try SafetySmart? Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| The operator of this Bobcat got a little more excitement than he was anticipating when the machine tipped over onto its bucket. Fortunately, he was not injured. Eight people helped right the Bobcat back onto its wheels. (Photo courtesy Terry James) |
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| Massive Jet Strikes and Spins Smaller One |
Jetliners sometimes get a little close for comfort at busy airports, but an incident at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City almost defies belief.
A huge Airbus A-380 Air France jet taxiing out to a runway struck the tail of a Comair Bombardier CRJ700 jet, quickly spinning it 90 degrees. There were more than 500 people on board the A-380 and about 66 people on board the Bombardier.
No injuries were reported. Passengers on the huge jet barely felt anything, but the situation was obviously different for those on board the Bombardier. The pilots on the smaller jet ordered everyone to evacuate and requested fire trucks.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, which could have had disastrous consequences had fuel tanks ruptured during the collision.
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| Upcoming Events: |
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| Due Diligence: Defining, Establishing & Demonstrating Your Record of Compliance |
Oct 24th & 25th
Hyatt Regency, Toronto, ON |
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| Join the online community of safety professionals |
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