General Info

A Pinch Point is produced when 2 objects come together and there is a possibility that a person could be caught or injured when coming in contact with that area. Pinch points commonly impact fingers / hands, but can impact any area of the body. The injury resulting from a pinch point could be as minor as a blister or as severe as amputation or death. Conveyors, gears, loaders, compactors and other moving equipment are examples of machinery with pinch points.

Common Causes of Injuries from Pinch Points

• Not paying attention to the location of hands and feet
• Walking or working in areas with mobile equipment and fixed structures
• Loose clothing, hair or jewelry getting caught in rotating parts or equipment
• Poor condition of equipment and guarding
• Dropping or carelessly handling materials or suspended loads
• Not using the proper work procedures or tools
• Reaching into moving equipment and machinery

Safety Controls for Pinch Points

• Machine guarding: Verify all guarding is in place and effective
• Personal Protective Equipment: Heavy-duty leather gloves, metacarpal guards, forearm guards, etc. Note: Do not wear gloves around rotating machinery
• Pre-work inspection: Identify potential pinch points before starting work
• Stay in employee designated areas: Always make sure mobile equipment operators know your location
• Lockout/Tagout: Always verify the equipment is de-energized before starting any maintenance work
• Alertness: Drowsiness leads to inattentive work habits and shortcuts
• Operating manuals and work procedures: Always review these before starting work; pinch points may also be identified in these documents

Questions to Generate Discussion

• What are the most common sources of pinch points in your work area?
• What improvements can be made to machine guarding?