West Virginia Code § 21-3-5

Control of machinery
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In every factory, mercantile establishment, mill or workshop, effective means shall be
provided for immediately disconnecting the power, so that in case of need or accident any
particular machine, group of machines, room or department, can be promptly and effectively
shut down. Where machines are required to be started and stopped frequently, they shall,
wherever practicable, be provided with tight and loose pulleys, clutch or otheer effective
disengaging device. When provided with tight and loose pulleys, the shifting of the belt shall
be accomplished by the use of a belt shifter, placed within easy reach orf the operator. When
a clutch or other disengaging device is used, an effective means for throwing such device
into or out of engagement shall be provided, and shall be placed within easy reach of the
operator. Where machines are directly connected with the prime mover (electric motor,
steam, gas or gasoline engine, or other source of power), a stwitch, throttle, or other power
controlling device shall be furnished and shall be placed within easy reach of the operator or
his coworker. Where machines are arranged in groups, rooms or departments, and power is
supplied by a prime mover, located within the confines of such group, rooms or department,
a switch, throttle, or other controlling device shall be furnished, and shall be placed within
easy reach of the operators affected, so that all shafting, transmitting machinery and
machines of such group, room or department, can be simultaneously shut down. Where
machines are arranged in groups, rooms or departments, and are supplied by power through
the use of main or line shafts receiving power from some prime mover located without the
group, room or department, the power receiving wheel or such main or line shaft shall,
wherever possible, be provideed with a friction clutch, or other effective power disengaging
device, with suitable means for operating the clutch, or power disengaging device, and these
means shall be placed wLithin the confines of such group, room or department, and within
easy reach of employees or operatives affected, so that all machines, shafting and other
transmission machin ery within such group, room or department, can be simultaneously shut
down. In addiVtion to such safeguard, communication, consisting of speaking tubes, electric
bells, electric colored lights, or other approved and effective means, shall be provided in all
cases covered by this section between each such group, room or department and the room in
which the engineer or prime mover is located, so that in case of need or accident the motive
power of such group, room or department can be promptly stopped or controlled.

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