The priority when selecting a hydraulic press

Operator Safety: The priority when selecting a hydraulic press

The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), a division of the United States Department of Labour, is responsible for defining the standards, rules and directives concerning operator and worker safety.

When it comes to machine guarding, the OSHA states the following: “Moving parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries. Any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded.” [1] When the operation of a machine may cause injury to the operator, or to bystanders, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled.


The selection of a hydraulic press is certainly not something that should be taken lightly. Not only are you likely seeking to make the right choice regarding your needs as far as tonnage, size, quality, reliability and available options, you certainly need to spend time considering the things that will make one hydraulic press safer than another.


Here are a few safety considerations to think about when you are looking to purchase an H-frame press for your company:
1. What is the maximum operating hydraulic pressure?
2. Is there a security guard available for the hydraulic press to ensure operator safety?
3. Is the operator exposed to additional hazards due to uncovered motor parts or dangling pulleys?
4. Does the ram speed exceed 3/8 inch per second?

• H-frame presses using large bore cylinders result in lower operating P.S.I. and lower oil temperatures. The outcome: higher efficiency and overall safer operation. Compare this to H-frame presses that use small bore cylinders with a 10,000 P.S.I. operating pressure; the result is higher oil temperatures resulting in less efficiency and increased risk of liability.
•  An important aspect of operator safety is the option to have a security guard which provides a barrier between the press and the machine’s operator; a security guard can be removed within seconds if required.
• Putting operator safety first, a motor that is tucked up and out of the way with no exposed parts or pulleys is certainly a bonus to look for when considering the safest hydraulic press for your employees.
• A ram with a speed of less than 3/8 inch per second ensures a controlled and safe progression. Take note: Any speed greater than 3/8 inch per second requires that additional safety precautions are taken.

Are you in the market for the ideal hydraulic press? Be certain to not only consider the bells and whistles available on the presses, be sure to take into consideration the safety of your most important resources: your hydraulic press operators.

At RK Machinery our objective is to provide accurate & reliable hydraulic machines which provide a high return on investment. With the multiple features of our presses, both standard and optional, we know that our hydraulic presses are not only good, but they are operator friendly. All our H-frame presses average 3,800 P.S.I maximum operating pressure. All the electrical, hydraulic and mechanical parts used to manufacture our hydraulic machines are standard in the industry and available throughout North America. (Be sure to check out what our competitors are offering…)

Our strict adherence to quality standards ensures sound, safe and reliable machinery. Visit us at RK Machinery the Hydraulic Press Specialist.

1. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/index.html