WAC 296-806-30008   Protect employees while shifting belts on belt and pulley drives.  

Exemption:	A belt shifter is not required on a belt and pulley system if:
	• It was installed on or before August 17, 1971;
	OR
	• The belt and pulley drive meets all of these requirements:
	– The belt is endless or laced with rawhide.
	– A nip point guard in front of the cone safeguards the nip point of the belt and pulley.
	– The nip point guard extends at least to the top of the largest step of the cone and is formed to show the contour of the cone.

Definition:

A nip point belt and pulley guard is a guard that encloses the pulley and has rounded or rolled edge slots for the belt to pass through.

     You must:

     (1) Provide a permanent mechanical belt shifter on belt drives that use either:

     • Tight and loose (drive and idler) pulleys;

     OR

     • A cone pulley.

     (2) Protect employees from the nip point of the belt and pulley by either:

     • The belt shifter or clutch handle;

     OR

     • A vertical guard in front of the pulley that extends at least to the top of the largest step of the cone.

     (3) Make sure a belt shifter or clutch handle is:

     • Rounded to keep the operator from being injured.

     • Easy to reach.

     • Positioned to reduce the chance of being accidentally moved.

     • Located either:

     – Over the machine;

     OR

     – Not higher than six feet six inches above the floor.

     (4) Make sure each belt shifter or clutch handle of the same type in your workplace moves in the same direction to stop a machine, that is, either all right or all left.

Exemption:	A friction clutch handle on a countershaft carrying two clutch pulleys with open and crossed belts is not required to move in the same direction as all other clutch handles or belt shifters if:
	• The clutch handle has three positions;
	AND
	• The machine is at rest when the clutch handle is in the center position.

     You must:

     (5) Use a belt shifter to shift a belt on and off a fixed pulley.

     • When a belt shifter cannot be used, you may use a belt pole if it is both:

     – Smooth;

     AND

     – Large enough to grasp securely.

Note:

A belt pole is also known as a "belt shipper" or "shipper pole."

     You must:

     (6) Provide a locking-type belt shifter or other positive securing device on woodworking machines driven by belts and shafting.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-14-028, § 296-806-30008, filed 6/29/04, effective 1/1/05.]