DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS  
DIRECTOR’S OFFICE  
GENERAL INDUSTRY SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD  
(By authority conferred on the director of the department of licensing and regulatory  
affairs by sections 16 and 21 of 1974 PA 154, MCL 408.1016 and 408.1021, and  
Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1996-2, 2003-18 2003-1, 2008-4, and 2011-4,  
MCL 408.1016, 408.1021, 445.2001, 445.2011, 445.2025, and 445.2030)  
PART 63. PULP, PAPER, AND PAPERBOARD MILLS  
GENERAL PROVISIONS  
R 408.16301 Scope.  
Rule 6301. (1) This standard sets forth rules to protect the life, limb, and health of  
the employee in, about, or around places of employment where pulp, paper, and  
paperboard are manufactured and converted.  
(2) These rules apply to establishments where pulp, paper, and paperboard are  
manufactured and converted. These rules do not apply to logging and the transportation  
of logs to pulp, paper, and paperboard mills  
(3) Respiratory protection shall be in compliance with Occupational Health Standard  
Part 451 “Respiratory Protection,” as referenced in R 408.16302.  
History: 1979 AC; 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16302 Adopted and referenced standards.  
Rule 6302. (1) This standard is adopted in these rules, National Fire Protection  
Association NFPA 91 “Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock, and Vapor  
Removal or Conveying,” 1961 edition. This standard is available from NFPA, 1  
Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts, USA, 02169-7471, telephone number:  
1-617-770-3000 or via the internet at website: www.nfpa.org; at a cost as of the time of  
adoption of these rules of $27.00.  
(2) The following standards are adopted in these rules and are available from IHS  
Global, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, Colorado, 80112, USA, telephone number:  
1-800-854-7179 or via the internet at website: http://global.ihs.com, at a cost as of the  
time of adoption of these rules, as stated in this subrule.  
(a) American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Standard Z9.1 “Open Surface  
Tanks-Ventilation and Operations,” 1951 edition. Cost: $20.00.  
(b) ANSI Z9.2 “Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local  
Exhaust Ventilation Systems,” 1960 edition. Cost $32.00.  
(c) American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel  
Code, Section VIII, “Unfired Pressure Vessels,” 1989 edition with addenda. Cost:  
$514.00.  
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(3) The standards adopted in these rules are available for inspection at the  
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, MIOSHA Regulatory Services Section,  
530 West Allegan Street, P.O. Box 30643, Lansing, Michigan, 48909-8143.  
(4) Copies of the standards adopted in these rules may be obtained from the  
publisher or may be obtained from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs,  
MIOSHA Regulatory Services Section, 530 West Allegan Street, P.O. Box 30643,  
Lansing, Michigan, 48909-8143, at the cost charged in this rule, plus $20.00 for shipping  
and handling.  
(5) The following Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration  
(MIOSHA) standards are referenced in these rules. Up to 5 copies of these standards may  
be obtained at no charge from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory  
Affairs, MIOSHA Regulatory Services Section, 530 West Allegan Street, P.O. Box  
30643, Lansing, MI, 48909-8143 or via the internet at website:  
www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards. For quantities greater than 5, the cost, at the time  
of adoption of these rules, is 4 cents per page.  
(a) General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 2 “Walking-Working  
Surfaces,” R 408.10201 to R 408.10241.  
(b) General Industry Safety Standard Part 7 “Guards for Power Transmission,”  
R 408.17201 to R 408.10765.  
(c) General Industry Safety Standard Part 23 “Hydraulic Power Presses,”  
R 408.12301 to R 408.12373.  
(d) General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 27 “Woodworking  
Machinery,” R 408.12701 to R 408.12799.  
(e) General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective  
Equipment,” R 408.13301 to R 408.13398.  
(f) General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 52 “Sawmills,” R 408.15201 to  
R 408.15284.  
(g) Occupational Health Standard Part 301 “Air Contaminants for General  
Industry,” R 325.51101 to R 325.51108.  
(h) Occupational Health Standard Part 380 “Occupational Noise Exposure in  
General Industry,” R 325.60101 to R 325.60128.  
(i) Occupational Health Standard Part 451 “Respiratory Protection,” R 325.60051 to  
R 325.60052.  
History: 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16303 Definitions; A, B.  
Rule 6303. (1) "Aisle" means a path of travel for employees and material handling  
equipment.  
(2) "Barker" means a machine which removes the bark from a log.  
(3) "Beater" means a vessel used for blending pulp and additives and preparing  
the pulp for paper making.  
(4) "Blow pit" means a vessel used to receive pulp from a digester.  
(5) "Boom crane" means a machine with a rotating superstructure, operating  
machinery and boom mounted on a base, usually self-propelled, and used to lift,  
lower and swing loads.  
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(6) "Broke" means recoverable paper.  
(7) "Broke hole" means an opening in a floor into which paper scrap is  
discharged.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16304 Definitions; C to E.  
Rule 6304. (1) "Calender" means a machine having an assembly of rolls for  
producing a desired finish on paper.  
(2) "Chipper" means a machine which cuts wood  
predetermined size.  
into  
chips  
of  
(3) "Chock" means a wedge or block of such design and construction to hold an  
object in place and to prevent movement.  
(4) "Core notcher" means a machine used to punch notches in ends of paper or  
metal cores.  
(5) "Cutter" means a machine used to cut rags and paper to small pieces.  
(6) "Digester" means a pressure vessel used to treat pulpwood, rags, straw or  
other cellulosic materials with chemicals or steam to produce pulp.  
(7) "Embosser" means a machine that applies a pattern to a sheet of paper by  
running it between engraved rolls.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16305 Definitions; F to N.  
Rule 6305. (1) "Flammable" means to ignite easily and rapidly burn.  
(2) "Foot protection" means protective equipment, such as a metal or plastic toe  
cap or metatarsal device, safety shoes, or boots, which is worn on an employee's foot  
and which is designed to protect against injury.  
(3) "Grinder" means a pulpstone wheel for grinding logs to produce wood pulp.  
(4) "Guillotine trimmer" means a machine with a shearing knife used to cut  
sheets to size.  
(5) "Hooker" means the employee who hooks the load to the hook.  
(6) "Jack ladder" means a conveyor used to transport logs to a barker.  
(7) "Knot cleaner" or "woodpecker" means a device used to remove knots from  
pulpwood.  
(8) "Nip point" means that point where a rotating object creates a pinching  
action with another rotating object.  
History: 1979 AC; 1993 AACS.  
R 408.16306 Definitions; P.  
Rule 6306. (1) "Paperboard mill" means a plant that manufactures paperboard  
from pulp or recycled paper fibers.  
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(2) "Paper mill" means a plant that manufactures paper from pulp or recycled  
paper fibers.  
(3) "Pinch point" means a point at which it is possible to be caught between the  
moving parts of a machine, or between moving and stationary parts of a machine or  
between material and any part of a machine.  
(4) "Pulper" means a machine designed to break up, defiber and dispense dry  
pulp, mill process broke, commercial waste paper or other fibrous material into slush  
form for further processing.  
(5) "Pulp mill" means a mill which processes pulpwood, wood chips or other  
such cellulosic material into pulp by cooking, screening and bleaching.  
(6) "Pulpwood" means a wood used in making pulp for paper.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16307 Definitions; R.  
Rule 6307. (1) "Rag cooker" means a vessel for reducing rags to pulp by cooking  
in a liquid.  
(2) "Rag duster" means a machine used to remove dust from rags.  
(3) "Rider roll" means an idler roll which applies pressure to  
rewound.  
(4) "Roll splitter" means a guillotine-type cutter used to split rolls of paper parallel  
to the core.  
(5) "Rotary cutter" means a machine with revolving knives which cuts rolled  
paper into sheets.  
a
roll being  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16308 Definitions; S.  
Rule 6308. (1) "Shredder" means a machine for reducing rags and paper into fine  
fibers.  
(2) "Slasher saw" means a circular saw through which logs are moved for cutting  
to length.  
(3) "Sole plate" means a base plate on which a machine is mounted.  
(4) "Splitter block" means a device used to reduce large wood logs to a smaller  
size.  
(5) "Stock chest" means a vessel for storage of pulp slurry.  
(6) "Sulfur burner" means a furnace used to burn sulfur.  
(7) "Super calender" means a machine having an assembly of rolls for  
producing fine finishes on paper.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16309 Definitions; T to V.  
Rule 6309. (1) "Tipple" means a device by which a loaded railcar or truck is  
emptied.  
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(2) “Travel restraint system” means a combination of an anchorage, anchorage  
connector, lanyard or other means of connection, and body support that an employer uses  
to eliminate the possibility of an employee going over the edge of a walking-working  
surface.  
(3) "Vessel" means a tank or vat used for storage or mixing of pulp or chemicals.  
History: 1979 AC; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16311 Employer responsibility.  
Rule 6311. An employer shall do all of the following:  
(a) Provide training to each employee regarding the hazards and safeguards before  
starting an assigned job.  
(b) Provide personal protective equipment that is necessary to protect an employee  
from the hazards of the job according to the requirements of R 408.16313 and General  
Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as  
referenced in R 408.16302.  
(c) Prevent the operation of a machine that is not guarded according to Michigan  
Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, that has a defective guard, or  
that is otherwise unsafe.  
(d) Establish and maintain a lockout procedure as prescribed in R 408.16323(4).  
(e) Comply with the requirements of this standard.  
History: 1979 AC; 1993 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16312 Employee responsibility.  
Rule 6312. An employee shall do all of the following:  
(a) Use personal protective equipment furnished by the employer.  
(b) Report to his or her supervisor any machine or safeguard that is defective.  
(c) Not remove a guard except for authorized operational or maintenance purposes.  
The guard shall be replaced or equivalent guarding installed before the machine is  
returned to production.  
(d) Not operate any machine or equipment until he is trained in the operating  
procedures, hazards, and safeguards and has been authorized to do so.  
History: 1979 AC; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16313 Personal protective equipment.  
Rule 6313. (1) A deluge shower and eye fountain shall be provided within 25 feet of  
an area where caustics or acids are used or mixed at a strength that could cause injury to  
an exposed employee.  
(2) An approved life jacket shall be provided to the employee, at no expense to the  
employee, and shall be used when an employee works above water where a protective  
standard barrier or lifeline and safety belt is not provided.  
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(3) Personal protective equipment used by more than 1 employee shall be cleaned or  
sanitized after each usage where body contact has been made.  
(4) Eye protection, as prescribed in General Industry Safety and Health Standard  
Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.16302, shall be  
provided to, and used by, employees who are in the wood yard and employees who are  
involved in any of the following operations:  
(a) Maintenance.  
(b) Barking.  
(c) Knot cleaning.  
(d) Digesting.  
(e) Pulp grinding.  
(f) Banding.  
(g) Chemical handling  
(5) Head protection, as prescribed in General Industry Safety and Health Standard  
Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.16302, shall be  
provided to, and used by, employees who are in the wood yard and employees who are  
included in any of the following operations:  
(a) Barking.  
(b) Maintenance.  
(c) Digesting.  
(d) Pulp grinding.  
(6) Foot protection, as prescribed in General Industry Safety and Health Standard  
Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.16302 shall be provided  
to, and used by, employees who are in the wood yard and employees who are involved in  
any of the following operations:  
(a) Pulp grinding.  
(b) Maintenance.  
(c) Hazardous chemical handling and mixing operations  
(7) Personal protective equipment such as aprons, gloves, rubber boots, and metal or  
plastic toe or metatarsal foot protection shall be provided and used as prescribed in  
General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as  
referenced in R 408.16302.  
(8) Respiratory equipment shall be provided to the employee, at no expense to the  
employee, and shall be available and maintained in an operable and sanitary condition  
where toxic fumes may be encountered above the maximum threshold limits as  
prescribed by Occupational Health Standard Part 301 “Air Contaminants for General  
Industry,” and Part 451 “Respiratory Protection,” as referenced in R 408.16302.  
History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 1993 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16318 Belt conveyors.  
Rule 6318. (1) When conveyors cross passageways or roadways, an employer shall  
provide a horizontal platform under the conveyor, extended out from the sides of the  
conveyor a distance equal to 1 1⁄2 times the length of the wood handled.  
(2) An employer shall provide the platform that shall extend the width of the road  
plus 2 feet (61 cm) on each side, and shall be kept free of wood and rubbish.  
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(3) An employer shall provide the edges of the platform with toeboards or other  
protection that meet the requirements of General Industry Safety and Health Standard  
Part 2 “Walking-Working Surfaces,” as referenced in R 408.16302.  
History: 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16321 Illumination.  
Rule 6321. (1) An employer stall furnish natural or artificial lighting to provide the  
following:  
(a) A minimum of 25 foot candles intensity at the machine operator’s work station.  
(b) A minimum of 5 foot candles along a means of egress.  
(c) A minimum of 2 foot candles in an inside active storage area.  
(2) An employee who is entering a vessel for the purpose of cleaning or inspecting  
the vessel shall be provided with an appropriate and intrinsically safe emergency portable  
illumination device.  
(3) Emergency lighting shall be provided where it is necessary for employees to  
remain at their machines or stations to shut down equipment in case of power failure.  
(4) Emergency lighting shall be provided at stairways and passageways or aisle  
ways used by employees for emergency exit in case of power failure.  
(5) Emergency lighting shall be provided in all plant first aid and medical facilities.  
History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 1993 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16322 Walking-working surfaces.  
Rule 6322. (1) An aisle or floor work area shall be free of protruding objects, holes,  
and loose boards.  
(2) An aisle shall be 3 feet wider than the widest load transported in the aisle and the  
outline of the aisle marked.  
(3) A slip-resistant surface shall be provided on platforms, at work stations, on walk  
ramps, plank walks, and catwalks.  
(4) A stair tread leading to a catwalk or platform shall have a slip-resistant surface.  
(5) A catwalk 4 feet or more above the floor, ground, or platform shall be guarded  
by a guardrail system and toeboard on the open side as prescribed in General Industry  
Safety and Health Standard Part 2 “Walking-Working Surfaces,” as referenced in  
R 408.16302. However, a catwalk, regardless of height, above or adjacent to dangerous  
equipment shall be guarded with a guardrail system and toeboard.  
(6) In the machine room, steps of uniform rise and tread with non-slip surfaces that  
meet the requirements in General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 2  
“Walking-Working Surfaces” shall be provided at each press.  
History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 1993 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16323 Power controls.  
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Rule 6323.(1) A machine shall be equipped with an emergency stop device,  
distinguished by its size or color, which can be activated from the operator's or crew  
member's work station. In addition, a rotary cutter, paper machine, and calender shall  
have an emergency stop device which will provide a braking action to stop the machine  
quickly in an emergency. This device shall be tested periodically by making use of it  
when stopping the machine.  
(2) A machine attended by more than 1 operator shall be equipped with a control for  
each operator exposed to a point of operation hazard. These controls shall be interlocked  
to prevent operation until each operator operates his or her control concurrently.  
(3) A machine control shall be designed and installed to prevent unintentional  
activation by contact with objects or parts of the body.  
(4) A power source of any equipment to be repaired, serviced or set-up shall be  
locked out by each employee doing the work where unexpected startup would cause  
injury, except when motion is necessary during set-up or adjustment. Such motion shall  
be achieved by a manually held constant pressure control device. Residual pressure shall  
be relieved prior to and during such work when the equipment is locked out.  
(5) Upon power failure, provisions shall be made to prevent machines from  
automatically restarting upon restoration of power.  
History: 1979 AC; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16324 Machine installation.  
Rule 6324. (1) A machine installed on a bench, table or stand shall be fastened to  
prevent unintentional movement or tipping.  
(2) A machine shall be so placed that it will not be necessary for an employee to  
stand in an aisle.  
(3) An electrically powered machine shall be grounded.  
(4) A machine, which because of its type of operation builds up static electricity,  
shall be equipped with a device to drain the electrical charge away.  
(5) A pipe containing surface heat, which can cause burns and which is within 8  
feet of a floor or platform or 15 inches of a ladder shall be enclosed by insulation or a  
barrier to protect an employee from contact.  
(6) A sole plate shall have a slip-resistant surface where the plate is crossed by an  
employee.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16325. Lubrication.  
Rule 6325. (1) An employer shall ensure that lubrication is accomplished by 1 of the  
following:  
(a) Manually, when the machine can be shut off and locked out.  
(b) Automatic pressure or gravity feed system.  
(c) Extension pipe leading to an area outside of guards or away from any hazards.  
(d) A means which would provide equal or greater protection than subdivision (a),  
(b) or (c) of this subrule for the employee.  
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(2) An employer shall ensure that General Industry Safety Standard Part 7 “Guards  
for Power Transmission,” as referenced in R 408.16302, is followed.  
History: 1979 AC; 2014 AACS; 2018 AACS.  
R 408.16326 Hydraulic and pneumatic systems.  
Rule 6326. (1) A hydraulic or pneumatic system shall have a designed safety  
factor of at least 4.  
(2) When hydraulic, air or steam lines are bled, equipment supported by these  
systems shall be blocked or otherwise secured to provide for the safety of employees  
working on or about the equipment.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16327 Maintenance.  
Rule 6327. Machinery and equipment in use shall be maintained in safe order.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.16328 Guarding.  
Rule 6328. (1) A lever carrying a weight shall have a bolt through the extreme  
end of the lever, a safety chain attached to it, or the weight shall be enclosed from its  
extended height to the floor or platform.  
(2) When material such as chunks or cants of wood or logs can be thrown from a  
barker or chipper, a barrier to contain the material shall be erected and maintained.  
(3) A foot switch or control shall be guarded to prevent accidental activation by  
falling or moving objects or by accidentally stepping on the pedal.  
History: 1979 AC; 1993 AACS.  
R 408.16331 Material handling.  
Rule 6331. (1) A mechanical lifting device shall be provided and used to place and  
remove rolls of paper and paperboard from a machine.  
(2) An escape hatch shall be provided where doors on an enclosed cab provided on a  
powered industrial truck may be blocked by special equipment.  
(3) A crane, powered industrial truck, or other wood handling equipment, except  
over the road vehicles, having a cab with windows shall have all windows protected by a  
screen made of steel rods not less than 7/16 inch in diameter with openings not more than  
4 by 4 inches or 2 by 6 inches.  
(4) Where a hooker or hatch tender is used, the operator of a cab style crane shall  
respond to the hooker’s or hatch tender’s signals. The signals for an overhead crane shall  
be as prescribed in Table 1 ‘Standard Hand Signals for Controlling Overhead and Gantry  
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Cranes.’ The signals for a boom type crane shall be as prescribed in Table 2 ‘Hand  
Signals for Boom-Type Cranes.’  
(5) A blower used to transport rags shall be provided a feed hopper with the opening  
not less than 48 inches from the fan. The blower outlet must not allow material to fall on  
an employee.  
(6) Railroad cars shall not be spotted on tracks adjacent to the locomotive cranes  
unless a 24-inch clearance is maintained, as prescribed in R 408.16342(1).  
(7) The handling and storage of other materials shall conform to R 408.16342(1) and  
(2) with respect to clearance.  
(8) Handles of wood hooks shall be locked to the shank to prevent them from  
rotating.  
(9) An employee shall not ride on a powered hand truck unless it is so designed by  
the manufacturer. A limit switch shall be on the operating handle —30 degrees each way  
from a 45-degree angle up and down beyond which the drive motor is electrically  
disconnected and braking action commences.  
(10) Whenever possible, all dust, fumes, and gases incident to handling materials  
shall be controlled at the source, in accordance with ANSI Standard Z9.2 “Fundamentals  
Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems,” 1960  
edition, as adopted in R 408.16302. Where control at the source is not possible, an  
employer shall provide respirators with goggles or protective masks, and employees shall  
wear them when handling alum, clay, soda, ash, lime, bleach powder, sulfur, chlorine,  
and similar materials, and when opening rag bales.  
(11) Hoods of cutters, shredders, and dusters shall have exhaust ventilation in  
accordance with ANSI Standard Z9.2 “Fundamentals Governing the Design and  
Operation of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems,” 1960 edition, as adopted in  
R 408.16302.  
TABLE 1  
STANDARD HAND SIGNALS FOR CONTROLLING OVERHEAD AND GANTRY CRANE  
BRIDGE TRAVEL.  
Arm extended forward, hand  
open and slightly raised, make  
pushing motion in direction of  
travel.  
LOWER.  
With  
downward, forefinger pointing  
down, move hand in small  
horizontal circles.  
HOIST.  
With  
arm  
extended  
forearm  
vertical,  
forefinger pointing up, move  
hand in small horizontal circle.  
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TABLE 1  
STANDARD HAND SIGNALS FOR CONTROLLING OVERHEAD AND GANTRY CRANE  
TROLLEY TRAVEL.  
STOP.  
EMERGENCY STOP.  
Arm extended, palm down,  
move hand rapidly right and left.  
Palm up, fingers closed,  
thumb pointing in direction of  
motion, jerk hand horizontally.  
Arm extended, palm down,  
hold position rigidly.  
MOVE SLOWLY.  
Use one hand to give any  
motion signal and place other  
hand motionless in front of  
hand giving the motion signal.  
(Hoist slowly shown as  
example.)  
MULTIPLE TROLLEYS.  
Hold up one finger for block  
marked “1” and two fingers for  
block marked “2”, Regular  
signals follow.  
MAGNET  
DISCONNECTED.  
Crane operator spreads both  
hands apart – palms up.  
IS  
TABLE 2  
HAND SIGNALS FOR BOOM-TYPE CRANES  
LOWER.  
With  
downward, forefinger pointing  
HOIST.  
With  
USE MAIN HOIST.  
Tap fist on head; then use  
regular signals.  
arm  
extended  
forearm  
vertical,  
forefinger pointing up, move  
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