It can be a fixed barrier that indicates a boundary or slows or stops an impact. Alternately, protective guarding can be sensing devices programmed to trigger an alarm or stop machine operation should they detect the presence of an employee in an unsafe area. Typical applications include fixed rails surrounding moving equipment or machinery, safety fencing or netting placed around high-bay material storage areas to catch falling objects, or specialized switches that sound loud bells or buzzers should unauthorized access occur.
Protective guarding comes in a variety of styles to protect equipment, structures and workers as they perform various tasks near and around machinery and storage areas, including:. Barrier guard, machine guard, fixed guard or fixed guarding : These guards are designed to be applied directly to moving equipment or machinery to prevent workers from coming into contact with moving parts. Typically secured with at least one fastener that requires a tool to be used to remove it, the guards are large enough that a person cannot reach around, over, under or through it to access the dangerous area.
Safety rail : Guard rail with posts and rails erected to prevent individuals from coming in contact with hazards. Perimeter guard: Fixed or portable wire mesh fencing that surrounds a work cell or machinery to prevent unauthorized access for safety or security reasons.
Bollard: One of a series of closely-spaced, low height posts fixed to a facility floor that prevent vehicles from entering an area. Column protector: Protects rack uprights and structural rack columns from possible damage due to a collision with a lift truck or a load transported by a vehicle. To ensure the integrity of the machinery and machine safeguards, a proactive, versus a break-down maintenance program needs to be established based upon the manufacturer's recommendations and good engineering practices.
Instruction in the safe use and care of machines and supervised on-the-job training are essential in preventing injuries. Skip to main content. Search form. Machine Guarding Overview Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness.
Where Mechanical Hazards Occur Dangerous moving parts require safeguarding because these three areas of the machine are most likely to cause injuries: The point of operation That point where work is performed on the material, such as cutting, shaping, boring, or forming of stock.
Power transmission apparatus All components of the mechanical system that transmit energy to the part of the machine performing the work. These components include flywheels, pulleys, belts, connecting rods, couplings, cams, spindles, chains, cranks, and gears.
Other moving parts All parts of the machine that move while the machine is working. These may include reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving parts, as well as feed mechanisms and auxiliary parts of the machine.
Hazardous Mechanical Motions and Actions The basic types of hazardous mechanical motions and actions are: Motions. Methods of Safeguarding There are five 5 general types of machine safeguards that can be used to protect workers and personnel in the immediate vicinity of machinery. They are: Guards — these are physical barriers that prevent contact. They can be fixed, interlocked, adjustable, or self-adjusting.
Devices — these limit or prevent access to the hazardous area. These can be presence-sensing devices, pullback or restraint straps, safety trip controls, two-hand controls, or gates.
Miscellaneous Aids — these methods can be used to protect both operators and people in the immediate vicinity of operating machinery. Examples include shields to contain chips, sparks, sprays or other forms of flying debris; holding tools that an operator can use to handle materials going into the point of operation; and awareness barriers to warn people about hazards in the area.
Provide personal protective equipment to operators. Ensure supervisors implement machine guarding and other safety program requirements. Ensure operators implement all safety program requirements. Provide or assist in conducting machine safeguard assessments and audits for Departments. Develop and provide OSHA machine guard training for affected employees.
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