Also known as a timber moulding machine, a four sider has at least four cutting heads so it can machine and shape long sides of timber in one pass.
While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.
Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.
Figure 1: Four sider
![[Image] Open four sider with labels and red arrows pointing to operational, cutting and cover components](/assets/Topic/Machinery/manufacturing-four-siders-figure-1.png)
Hazards
- Contact or impact from thrown timber
- Contact with cutters
- Noise
- Dust
- Slips, trips & falls
- Unexpected movement (during maintenance, cleaning & adjustments)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Ear protection
- Eye protection
- Face protection
- Dust protection
Tasks
Contact or impact from thrown timber
Harm
- Bruising
- Fractures
Controls
- KEEP cutters sharp, so their energy is used to cut, not push against the timber.
- INSTALL sensors to detect whether timber is presented correctly to the cutters.
- POSITION the machine to prevent timber hitting anyone.
Hazard
Contact with cutters
Harm
- Deep cuts or amputation
Controls
- FIT a bridge guard above the cutters. Width MUST be 11⁄2 times the width of the opening.
Other (non-mechanical) hazards
Hazard
Noise
Harm
- Hearing damage or loss
Controls
- REDUCE noise levels by isolating machines or enclosing within noise barriers.
- ASSESS noise levels.
- ARRANGE hearing screenings.
- ALWAYS WEAR hearing protection.
A safe noise level over an eight hour day is 85dB(A). A four sider machine may exceed this noise intensity. Noise levels will be worse when the cabinet is open during set-up.
Hazard
Dust
Harm
- Eye irritation or damage
- Breathing problems, lung damage or cancer
- Worsening of existing health problems
Controls
- USE dust extraction equipment to minimise dust getting in the operator’s breathing zone.
- ALWAYS USE respiratory protection.
- ALWAYS WEAR eye protection.
Hazard
Slips, trips and falls
Harm
- Trapping
- Cuts
- Bruising
Controls
- KEEP up-to-date housekeeping procedures.
- KEEP the area around four siders clear of slip and trip hazards.
Task – Maintenance, cleaning & adjustments
Hazard
Contact, impact or entanglement from unexpected movement
Harm
- Crush injuries
- Deep cuts or amputation
- Fractures
- Bruising
Controls
- LOCK-OUT all power supplies before maintenance, cleaning or adjustments. This includes electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic supplies.
- BE AWARE that cutters may have significant overrun time after the power is turned off.
- If braking time is greater than 10 seconds, owners should retrofit braking.
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Four siders
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