FactSheet
Amputations
Amputations are some of the most serious and debilitating workplace injuries. They
are widespread and involve a variety of activities and equipment. Amputations occur
most often when workers operate unguarded or inadequately safeguarded mechanical
power presses, power press brakes, powered and non-powered conveyors, printing
presses, roll-forming and rollbending machines, food slicers, meat grinders, meat-
cutting band saws, drill presses, and milling machines as well as shears, grinders, and
slitters. These injuries also happen during materials handling activities and when using
forklifts and doors as well as trash compactors and powered and non-powered hand
tools. Besides normal operation, the following activities involving stationary machines
also expose workers to potential amputation hazards: setting up, threading, preparing,
adjusting, cleaning, lubricating, and maintaining machines as well as clearing jams.
What types of machine components are worker in a pinch or shear point created
hazardous? between the moving part and a fixed object.
The following types of mechanical components • Cutting – action generated during sawing,
present amputation hazards: boring, drilling, milling, slicing, and slitting.
• Point of operation – the area of a machine • Punching – motion resulting when a machine
where it performs work on material. moves a slide (ram) to stamp or blank metal or
• Power-transmission apparatuses – flywheels, other material.
pulleys, belts, chains, couplings, spindles, cams, • Shearing – movement of a powered slide or
and gears in addition to connecting rods and knife during metal trimming or shearing.
other machine components that transmit energy. • Bending – action occurring when power is
• Other moving parts – machine components applied to a slide to draw or form metal or
that move during machine operation such as other materials.
reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving Are there any OSHA standards that cover
parts as well as auxiliary machine parts. amputation hazards in the workplace?
What kinds of mechanical motion are Yes. The Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-
hazardous? tration (OSHA) has the following standards in Title
All mechanical motion is potentially hazardous. In 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to pro-
addition to in-running nip points (“pinch points”) – tect workers from amputations in the workplace:
which occur when two parts move together and at • 29 CFR Part 1910 Subparts O and P cover
least one moves in a rotary or circular motion that machinery and machine guarding.
gears, rollers, belt drives, and pulleys generate – the • 29 CFR 1926 Subpart I covers hand tools and
following are the most common types of hazardous powered tools.
mechanical motion: • 29 CFR Part 1928 Subpart D covers agricultural
• Rotating – circular movement of couplings, equipment.
cams, clutches, flywheels, and spindles as well • 29 CFR Part 1915 Subparts C, H, and J; 29 CFR
as shaft ends and rotating collars that may grip Part 1917 Subparts B, C, and G; and 29 CFR
clothing or otherwise force a body part into a Part 1918 Subparts F, G, and H cover maritime
dangerous location. operations.
• Reciprocating – back-and-forth or up-and-
What can employers do to help protect
down action that may strike or entrap a worker
workers from amputations?
between a moving part and a fixed object.
You should be able to recognize, identify, manage,
• Transversing – movement in a straight, and control amputation hazards commonly
continuous line that may strike or catch a found in the workplace such as those caused
by mechanical components of machinery, the prohibited from operating band saws, circular saws,
mechanical motion that occurs in or near these guillotine shears, punching and shearing machines,
components, and the activities that workers meatpacking or meat-processing machines, paper
perform during mechanical operation. products machines, woodworking machines, metal-
forming machines, and meat slicers.
Work practices, employee training, and admin-
istrative controls can help prevent and control Workers’ Rights
amputation hazards. Machine safeguarding with Workers have the right to:
the following equipment is the best way to control
amputations caused by stationary machinery: • Working conditions that do not pose a risk of
• G uards provide physical barriers that prevent serious harm.
access to hazardous areas. They should be • Receive information and training (in a language
and vocabulary the worker understands) about
secure and strong, and workers should not be
workplace hazards, methods to prevent them,
able to bypass, remove, or tamper with them.
and the OSHA standards that apply to their
Guards should not obstruct the operator’s view
workplace.
or prevent employees from working.
• Review records of work-related injuries
• Devices help prevent contact with points of
and illnesses.
operation and may replace or supplement • File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect
guards. Devices can interrupt the normal their workplace if they believe there is a
cycle of the machine when the operator’s serious hazard or that their employer is not
hands are at the point of operation, prevent following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all
the operator from reaching into the point of identities confidential.
operation, or withdraw the operator’s hands • Exercise their rights under the law without
if they approach the point of operation when retaliation, including reporting an injury or
the machine cycles. They must allow safe raising health and safety concerns with their
lubrication and maintenance and not create employer or OSHA. If a worker has been
hazards or interfere with normal machine retaliated against for using their rights, they
operation. In addition, they should be secure, must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as
tamper-resistant, and durable. possible, but no later than 30 days.
You are responsible for safeguarding machines For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers
and should consider this need when purchasing page (www.osha.gov/workers).
machinery. New machinery is usually available with
safeguards installed by the manufacturer. You can How to Contact OSHA
also purchase appropriate safeguards separately or Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
build them in-house. of 1970, employers are responsible for providing
safe and healthful workplaces for their employees.
Are certain jobs particularly hazardous OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for
for some employees? America’s working men and women by setting
Yes. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the and enforcing standards, and providing training,
Secretary of Labor has designated certain nonfarm education and assistance. For more information,
jobs as especially hazardous for employees visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-
under the age of 18. These workers generally are OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or
standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of
compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.
The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.
DSG FS-3508 04/2012
