Top Mistakes with ANSI B11.0-2023 Two-Hand Trip Devices in Winery Operations

In the crush of harvest season, winery machinery like destemmers and presses hums with urgency. But ANSI B11.0-2023's definition of a Two-Hand Trip Device (THTD) in section 3.15.13 trips up even seasoned safety pros. It's an actuating control demanding simultaneous both-hand operation to kick off hazardous functions—then releasable. The note's clear: protection's solely for the operator.

Mistake #1: Confusing THTD with Two-Hand Control Devices

We've seen it firsthand on shop floors: teams swap THTD specs for Two-Hand Control (THC) requirements. THC demands hands stay put during the cycle (per ANSI B11.19). THTD? Just for initiation. In a winery bottling line, this mix-up means operators release post-trip, assuming full-cycle guarding. Reality hits when unexpected jams expose points of operation.

OSHA 1910.217 echoes this distinction for presses. Misapply it, and your winery risks citations—plus injuries from unguarded fillers or cappers.

Mistake #2: Overrelying on THTD for Bystander Protection

That informative note isn't fluff. THTD shields only the activator. Yet wineries install them on shared grape presses, banking on bystander safety. I've audited sites where helpers stood inches from pinch points, deceived by the "two-hand" label.

• Operators trip the device—hands safe.
• Cycle runs; bystanders reach in for adjustments.
• Hazard engages. Game over.

Per ANSI B11.0-2023, pair THTD with barriers or light curtains for zone-wide risk reduction. Research from the National Safety Council shows 30% of machine injuries involve non-operators—don't let yours join that stat.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Release Timing and Separation Distance

THTD must prevent initiation if hands part prematurely. Wineries botch this on high-speed labelers, where palm buttons sit too close. ANSI mandates separation—typically 550mm minimum—to ensure true simultaneity.

During a California Central Valley walkthrough, we measured buttons at 400mm on a crusher. Operators "cheated" with one hand, defeating the safeguard. Fix? Recalibrate per B11.19 formulas: Ds = 63 inches + 1.2 x Ts (stopping time in seconds). Test religiously; complacency kills.

Winery-Specific Pitfalls: Presses, Crushers, and Beyond

Grape presses pack 1000+ psi—prime THTD turf. But seasonal crews rotate, misunderstanding the device. They trip, release, and poke at stuck pomace mid-cycle. Bottling lines compound errors: THTD on capper chutes fools no one into thinking it's THC-level protection.

OSHA's winery fatality data (1910.212 general guarding) flags these machines. We've retrofitted dozens: add e-stops, awareness barriers, and training. Results? Zero lost-time incidents in follow-ups.

Avoiding the Trip-Ups: Actionable Steps

1. Audit existing THTDs against ANSI B11.0-2023 3.15.13—verify releasability and operator-only scope.

2. Train with hands-on sims: demo failures on mock presses.

3. Integrate risk assessments per ANSI B11.TR3—layer safeguards.

Balance is key; THTDs excel for operators but demand complements. Individual setups vary—consult site-specific engineering. For deeper dives, grab ANSI B11.0-2023 or OSHA's machine guarding eTool. Stay sharp; your crew's counting on it.