1010 – 04 – What are Point of Operation Hazards?

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One of the primary hazards involved with cutting processes is from the movement of machinery and workers’ proximity to what’s called the “point of operation.” “Point of operation” is a term that describes the area where cutting occurs. The point of operation is where the actual cutting occurs. Contact with the point of operation can result in serious harm.

Injuries happen when extremities like fingers and feet come into contact with chains, belts and tooling. Flying chips and sparks can inflict cuts, burns, and eye injuries. Machine guarding is one of the most reliable ways to protect workers from harm. It’s part of the machine that shelters workers from sparks with a protective cover.

Modern machines will have machine guards, but older machines will often times lack proper protection. Always understand what is dangerous about your machine and what could possibly hurt you. If you don’t know, talk to your supervisor.