The employee asks: I work on a wood processing line as the material receiver. On the opposite side of the line, there is a red button intended for use in emergencies, but I have to go to the other side of the line to reach it, as it cannot be pressed from the operating position. There is also a red button at the machine operator’s workplace, but from their position, they cannot see if something happens to me. Should the mushroom-shaped button used in case of an emergency be located near my workstation?
Answered by Rein Reisberg, Working Environment Consultant of the Labour Inspectorate:
If the machine manufacturer has provided an emergency stop button, it must be freely accessible without the use of any aids. The purpose of the emergency stop button is to stop a dangerous process as quickly as possible without creating additional risks. As a general rule, it should be located at each worker’s workplace. In this case, in the event of an emergency, any employee working on the machine can quickly stop it. A situation where an employee has to take several steps to reach the emergency stop button cannot be considered freely accessible. In the situation described in your letter, the emergency stop button is not freely accessible.
Emergency stop devices must be easily noticeable. The most common emergency stop device is a push button that can be easily activated with the palm of the hand. This button is red and mushroom-shaped. The background colour of the button can be yellow.
The emergency stop button must be positioned between 0.6 m and 1.7 m above the level where the employee stands (eg the floor or platform). If the button is positioned too low, the employee would need to bend down, which could take time or might not be possible in an emergency. Similarly, a button positioned too high could be difficult to reach in an emergency.
It is common to see in companies that the use of the emergency stop button is obstructed. In the worst-case scenario, the button is malfunctioning and cannot be used in an emergency. Another common issue is placing containers or production materials in front of the button, making it difficult to reach or causing delays in reaching it. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that access to the stop button is unobstructed at all times. In some cases, the mushroom-shaped button has been used to hang items such as tools or ear defenders. Items stored in front of the emergency stop button or hanging from it can hinder the emergency stopping of the machine, potentially leading to health damage.
It is important that releasing the emergency stop button does not restart the machine. The machine should only be restarted using a start-up device.
Most of the above also applies to other emergency stop devices, such as wires, wire ropes and levers, in addition to mushroom-shaped buttons.
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