LO 6-6 Identify and describe the hazards associated with rotating components and outline control practices

1. Rotating Hazards

Rotating Hazards

Broken hands and arms or severed fingers are a few of the injuries caused by rotating hazards. Mechanical power, transmitted through drive belts, gears, and pulleys, can impart tremendous force to body parts, causing severe injuries Figure 29. An open turbocharger compressor housing, containing sharp impeller wheel blades, is another common component on a running engine that can quickly and cleanly cut fingertips. Using the housing as a grab handle or inadvertently making contact with the blades can happen while performing engine repairs with the turbocharger intake pipe disconnected. Rotating machine parts are primarily hazardous because they form nip points, places where parts of fingers are gripped and then squeezed or pulled with great force Figure 30. Other rotating hazards include flywheels, shaft couplings, cams, spindles, chains, cranks, and meshing gears. The danger increases when items such as set screws, bolts, nicks, abrasions, and projecting keys are exposed on rotating parts. Rotating motion can be dangerous even when smooth, slowly rotating shafts grip clothing or, through skin contact, twist an arm or hand into a dangerous position. Rotating components can even turn falling tools or fasteners into dangerous projectiles if they make contact with rotating items (like fan blades) when they fall.

FIGURE 06-29: Fan blades and belt drive systems are common rotating hazards when performing engine service work.

FIGURE 06-30: Rotating hazards create nip points where parts of fingers, clothing, jewelry, and hair can be trapped and either pulled or squeezed.