You walk by a power transmission shaft and notice that it is protruding out and seems to be missing its guard/cap. You look all around for it, as we usually can find them sitting on the floor nearby!!!, but no luck. So you report the “hazard” and issue a work-order to install a guard/cap over this protruding powered shaft. Then someone asks… aren’t some of those protrusion “allowed” to be unguarded? You research and find this in the OSHA standard…
1910.219(c)(4)(i) Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.
But what does this actually mean and what does this set up look like?
Well just happens to be our good friend at OR-OSHA has put together this great illustration for us:
Projecting shaft ends MUST NOT project MORE THAN one-half of the shaft’s diameter unless guarded by non-rotating caps or safety sleeves.
AND PLEASE remember, this applies ONLY to SMOOTH SHAFTS! If their is a grease fitting or any type of protrusion on the shaft – IT MUST BE FULLY COVERED. This is because those little rotating protrusion can catch clothing and pull a worker into the shaft/machine.