Industrial Sewing Machine Safety

Industrial sewing machine safety is monitored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since sewing machines consist of needles and gears, they can pose a safety risk, particularly if not operated or designed properly. There are several ways to ensure sewing machine safety in the workplace.

Protectors

Industrial sewing machines must have some sort of protective guard near the needles to protect worker's hands. According to the OSHA, these protectors should be placed near the needle, particularly near where it sews fabric. Protectors should also be in place in other areas in which workers could be injured.

Stopping Devices

All sewing machines must possess devices that can quickly stop the unit from operating. The methods of stopping machines can be either electrical or mechanical. OSHA also stipulates that machines should not be able to turn on automatically.

Maintenance

Other methods of ensuring industrial sewing machine safety comes in the form of regular examination and maintenance of the units. Therefore, testing and repair of machines should be performed on a recurring basis.

References

• OSHA: General Requirements for All Machines
• OSHA: Textiles