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WARNING!
To avoid personal injury, do not use foot switches on
machinery lacking effective point-of-operation safeguards.
The use
of foot switches on machines that do not have “point of operation” and
“pinch point” protection can cause serious injury to the operator.
Point of operation and pinch point guarding devices must be properly
installed before a foot switch is used.
Foot
switches should be utilized so that it is impossible for the
operator’s hands and fingers to remain within the point of operation
during the machine cycle.
It is the responsibility of the
user to select the foot switch which is suitable for his or her
application, and to ensure that its use and installation complies with all
Federal, State, and Local safety and health regulations, including OSHA,
ANSI, NEMA, or other relevant national standards.
Only the user can be aware of
all conditions and factors present during installation, operation, and
maintenance of the foot switch and surrounding work area. Therefore, only
the user can determine which foot switches and which point-of-operation
safeguards can properly be used in a particular application or work
station.
Foot switches
can be used to control many industrial processes, which often leave the
operator's hands free to perform other functions. The type of foot switch
suitable for each application will vary, depending on the type of control
required, the degree of protection required, production methods, workplace
conditions, government regulations, and other factors.
Foot switches should be installed only by a qualified electrician according
to all local and national electrical and safety regulations.
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Definitions
Point of
operation
- The point or area of the machine or the equipment where the work piece
or material is positioned and work is being performed during any process,
such as forming, cutting, punching, shearing, assembling, riveting,
welding, etc.
Pinch
point
- Any point at which it is possible for any portion of the body to be
caught and injured between moving machine, equipment, or work piece parts.
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If you have any questions about this safety warning,
please contact The SSC Controls Company. To download, save, and/ or
print a copy of this Foot Switch Safety Warning, click on the icon below:
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Additional
references:
Machine guarding
of presses (OSHA) -
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/presses/footcontrol.html
Occupational
Safety and Health Association (OSHA) -
www.osha.gov
National
Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) -
www.nema.org
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) - www.epa.gov
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The SSC
Controls Company
8909 East Avenue
Mentor, Ohio 44060
USA
Telephone:
1-440-205-1600
Facsimile:
1-440-205-1700
mail@ssccontrols.com
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FOOT SWITCH SAFETY WARNING