Equipment Requiring Certification
Policy Key Points
Certain processes and types of equipment require formal certification. Where certification is required, the certification must be issued by Yaskawa America, Inc. or one of its authorized certification providers. Certification from prior employment will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Rule of Thumb: Certification is required if the equipment or process:
- Has a motor, or
- Exposes a person to hazardous energy, or
- Shoots something, or
- Puts a person into a hazardous environment.
Policy
Education vs. Training vs. Certification
Education: The process of acquiring knowledge, often through classroom or eLearning classes.
Driving Analogy: Learning to drive begins in the classroom where you learn rules of the road, car parts, and vehicle handling. However, classroom education alone does not prepare someone to drive independently on public roads.
Training: After acquiring knowledge, hands-on training is required to develop actual skill and operational competency.
Driving Analogy: An instructor accompanies the student, guiding them step-by-step through real-world scenarios and higher speeds over many supervised hours.
Certification: Documented evidence of demonstrated competence.
Driving Analogy: Taking a written test to prove knowledge, followed by a formal driving examination to demonstrate physical competence. Receiving a driver's license represents official certification.
Awareness Training: Associates who are not certified, but work in areas exposed to equipment or process hazards, still require hazard education and safety training to protect themselves.
Pedestrian Analogy: Teaching children to look both ways before crossing the street—explaining risks, traffic directions, and guiding them repeatedly until they understand how to remain safe around moving vehicles.
Certification Rule of Thumb
Certification is required if the equipment or process satisfies any of the following four criteria:
- The equipment has a motor
- Exposes personnel to hazardous energy
- Shoots something (projectiles/pressure)
- Places personnel into a hazardous environment
1. Equipment that Has a Motor
Certification is required for:
- Powered Industrial Trucks: Forklifts, order pickers, turret trucks, material handling powered carts, and powered pallet jacks.
- Aerial Lifts & Stackers: Scissor lifts and Big Joe motorized stackers.
- Industrial Robots & Manipulators
- Overhead Cranes & Hoists
- Motor-Driven Conveyor Belts
- Industrial Machinery: Bandsaws, grinders, reciprocating saws, drill presses, mills, dynamometers, CNC machines, etc.
Exception: Hand drills and torque drivers do NOT require certification.
2. Equipment or Process Exposing Personnel to Hazardous Energy
Certification is required for:
- Working with energized exposed electrical conductors.
- Gaussing / Degaussing Machines.
- Hydraulic and Pneumatic systems.
- Lockout / Tagout: Associates MUST be certified as Authorized Personnel to lock out or tag out equipment.
3. Equipment that Shoots Something (Projectiles / Pressure)
Certification is required for:
- Pneumatic nail guns
- Powered staple guns
- Paint spray guns
- Cleaning with compressed air guns (must be regulated to less than 30 psi)
- Laboratory environmental chamber rain test fixtures and high-pressure fire hoses
4. Hazardous Environments
Certification is required if a process places personnel in a hazardous environment:
- Permit-required confined spaces
- Working unprotected at heights greater than 4 feet above lower levels, or above dangerous equipment regardless of height
- Working with toxic chemicals
- Hazardous chemical disposal operations
- Working in oxygen-deficient areas
- Welding, flame cutting, and brazing
- Any environment requiring the use of a respirator
Certification Process & Implementation
- Certification has long been mandatory at Yaskawa for core high-risk activities, including:
- Working with exposed electrical conductors
- Lockout/Tagout Authorized status
- Operating Powered Industrial Trucks
- Prohibited/Restricted Processes: Certain processes (e.g., entering permit-required confined spaces or oxygen-deficient environments) are currently not permitted for any Yaskawa associate, but remain listed should authorization ever be considered.
- Expansion of Certification Framework: Equipment that previously required general training without formal certification (e.g., industrial machines, cranes) has been transitioned into formal certification procedures. New associates assigned to such equipment must obtain certification within 60 days of procedure release.
- Associates seeking certification on any process or piece of equipment should contact EHS at EHS@Yaskawa.com.
Breaches of Policy
Failure to comply with certification requirements introduces severe safety risks. Non-compliance may result in immediate revocation of equipment privileges and disciplinary action in accordance with Yaskawa America's corporate discipline policy.
Training
All associates receive training regarding the requirements and scope of this policy.
Revision History
| Rev # | Description | Release Date | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Initial Release | 5/14/2016 | Thurwanger |
Program Review
| Review Date | Reviewed by | Changes Required (Yes/No) | Revision # if updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/15/2017 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/12/2018 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/18/2019 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/14/2020 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/26/2021 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/18/2022 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/13/2023 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/16/2024 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 1/21/2025 | Thurwanger | No | — |
| 2/11/2026 | Thurwanger | No | — |
