Glossary · Hazards and harm
Drawing-in hazard
Also known as: in-running nip hazard
In machine safety, a drawing-in hazard is a mechanical hazard in which a person or body part can be pulled into moving parts, typically at in-running nips between rollers, belts and pulleys, or gears.
- Machine safety
- Risk assessment
- Human factors
In one sentence
A drawing-in hazard pulls hands, clothing or the whole body into moving machine parts, typically at roller nips and belt drives.
Example
At the infeed of a printing press, two counter-rotating rollers form an in-running nip; a fixed nip guard keeps fingers out while the web passes through.
How it applies
- Machine safety: Drawing-in hazards occur at roller pairs, belt and chain drives, conveyor return rollers and winding stations. Guarding the in-running nip point is usually more effective than relying on an emergency stop, because the machine can pull a hand in faster than a person can react.
- Technical documentation: Describe tasks near the nip, such as threading material or cleaning rollers, and state whether they may only be done at reduced speed, with hold-to-run control or with the machine isolated.
- Human factors: Loose clothing, gloves and long hair increase the risk; a glove caught in a nip can pull the hand in. Say so in the instructions.
- Evidence: Record each nip point, its guard and any tasks that require access.
Drawing-in hazard vs. entanglement hazard
Drawing-in pulls a body part into a gap between parts. Entanglement winds clothing or hair around a single rotating part. Both can occur together.