The mechanical power press in its application in the metal stamping and forming industry has been misinterpreted as a selfcontained metal forming system. Examination of the production routines involving the press show that this machine is actually only one elemental component of the metal forming system and not the total production unit.

Authoritative codes and standards pertinent to the mechanical power press have reflected this misinterpretation by not including system considerations in their contents. These omissions have resulted in the providing of safeguards which do not properly reflect the particular characteristics of the metal forming system to which they are applied. This has resulted in the continuing occurrence of point of operation (die closure area) injuries.

Product liability litigation resulting from point of operation injuries has increased substantially in recent years. This has been caused in part by two related factors: the application of non-system oriented codes and standards in judging the propriety of metal forming system performance and the exclusion of statutes of limitations on machinery involved in industrial accidents based on date of manufacture. These two factors have created unrealistic demands on the performance requirements of the power press and have resulted in less than adequate success in properly determining liability and directing economic recovery for point of operation injuries.

Revisions in present codes, standards and statutes of limitations are necessary if permanent reductions in point of operation injuries are to be realized.