Safety

Safety Warning

As a manufacturer specializing in the design and build of all types of press brake tooling we endeavor at all times to supply dies in accordance with customer needs. To illustrate some of our capabilities, the dies in this catalog are a selection of both general purpose and special design type, available at your choice with either regular or safety tongue mounting provisions. Whatever dies you select, Midwest Press Brake Dies emphasizes they are intended for use in a press brake, or similar machine, with adequate safeguards being provided by user to prevent fingers, hands, or any other parts of the body of an operator, helper, or other employees from inadvertently entering or remaining within the die space/point of operation, while the equipment is in motion. Also, since Midwest Press Brake Dies has no control over how dies may be put to use in-plant after receipt i.e.: use of gages, machine guards etc., it must be understood that it is the employee/user who must assume full responsibility to ensure at all times their proper application and use, with special regard to operator safety. This responsibility entails meeting the requirements of all mandatory local, State and Federal safety codes as applicable, and suggested voluntary compliance with industry standards such as described and illustrated In the American National Standards bulletin ANSI-B11-3, covering “safety requirements for construction, care and use of Power Press Brakes.”

To further assist the employer/user,
we offer the following basic safety suggestions:

1. Provide adequate training with periodic follow-up, for all personnel involved or engaged in daily use of machinery and tooling.
2. Ensure all read and are familiar with information regarding maintenance, care, use and safety contained in machine manufacturer’s manual
3. Provide all personnel with ready access to all safety bulletins, materials, pertinent to machine and tooling operations.
4. Provide applicable point of operation guards or devices for each operation.
5. Require machine, machine controls, and all tooling be set up by qualified, safety conscious personnel, overseen by safety trained supervision.
6. Whenever practical use two handed controls in lieu of a foot switch or pedal to activate the machine.
7. Provide and use whenever possible hand tools in conjunction with suitable safeguards to insert, hold, or remove parts as necessary.
8. NEVER use a foot switch or pedal with machine set on “CONTINUOUS” operating mode without providing adequate point of operation guarding or devices, or making provisions for safe distance operation.

For additional information on providing a safe workplace, we suggest contact with your insurance carrier, OSHA, machine manufacturer, or manufacturers specializing in safety equipment and devices.