title: Findings From the National Machine Guarding Program-A Small Business Intervention: Machine Safety.
abstract: The purpose of this nationwide intervention was to improve machine safety in small metal fabrication businesses (3 to 150 employees). The failure to implement machine safety programs related to guarding and lockout/tagout (LOTO) are frequent causes of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations and may result in serious traumatic injury.
  
  
  
  Insurance safety consultants conducted a standardized evaluation of machine guarding, safety programs, and LOTO. Businesses received a baseline evaluation, two intervention visits, and a 12-month follow-up evaluation.
  
  
  
  The intervention was completed by 160 businesses. Adding a safety committee was associated with a 10% point increase in business-level machine scores (P < 0.0001) and a 33% point increase in LOTO program scores (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  
  Insurance safety consultants proved effective at disseminating a machine safety and LOTO intervention via management-employee safety committees.
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute, Bloomington, Minnesota (Dr Parker, Mr Yamin, Dr Xi, Mr Gordon); University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (Dr Brosseau); University of New England, School of Public Health (Dr Most); and MEMIC, Loss Control Division, Portland, Maine (Mr Stanley).
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yamin
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brosseau
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Ivan G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Most
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008669:Metallurgy; D016272:Occupational Health; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D058012:Small Business