Machine Guarding refers to the practice of installing barriers or protective devices around machines and equipment to prevent accidental contact with moving parts, flying debris, or other potential sources of harm. The primary goal of machine guarding is to create a safer working environment by minimizing the risk of injuries and accidents resulting from interacting with machinery. Machine safety hazards left unchecked can lead to serious harm to your operators, and potentially making you liable for damages.
Importance of Machine Guarding
Machines have a lot of hazards involved in their regular operations such as rotating gears, sharp blades, powerful motors, and high-speed moving parts. Without proper guarding, these hazards pose a significant risk to workers who operate, maintain, or repair the equipment. Machine guarding serves as a physical barrier that separates workers from these hazards, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. Having proper guarding measures in place can help prevent amputations, crush injuries, lacerations, and even fatalities
Types of Machine Guarding
Fixed Guards
These are sturdy barriers permanently attached to the machine to prevent access to hazardous areas. Fixed guards are often used alongside automated equipment, where access to the danger zone is not required during normal operation.
Interlocked Guards
These guards are designed to disable the machine when the guard is opened or removed, ensuring that the machine cannot be operated while the guard is not in place. Interlocked guards provide an added layer of protection by preventing unauthorized access to hazardous areas.
Adjustable Guards
These guards allow workers to customize the barrier’s position according to the specific task being performed. They are particularly useful for tasks that require different levels of access to the machine’s working parts.
Self-Adjusting Guards
These guards automatically adjust their position based on the size of the material being processed, ensuring that the guarding remains effective while accommodating varying workpieces.
Two-Hand Controls
This type of guarding requires both of the operator’s hands to be engaged to initiate the machine’s operation. It ensures that the operator’s hands are clear of the hazardous area before the machine starts.
Presence Sensing Devices
These devices use sensors to detect the presence of a person’s body part in a hazardous area. If a person enters the danger zone, the machine’s operation is halted.
Barrier Guards
Barrier guards are physical barriers placed around a machine to prevent accidental contact with hazardous parts. They are typically used in situations where other types of guarding are not feasible.
Benefits of Effective Machine Guarding
Injury Prevention
Protecting workers from injuries caused by the moving parts and hazards on machinery is the primary purpose of machine guarding. Having the proper guarding measures in place significantly reduces the risk of accidents, amputations, and other serious injuries.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Many countries have established regulations and standards that require employers to implement machine guarding to ensure worker safety. Adhering to these regulations helps companies avoid legal liabilities and penalties.
Enhanced Productivity
When workers feel safe operating machinery, they can focus on their tasks without the constant worry of potential accidents. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and improved efficiency.
Cost Savings
Effective machine guarding can result in reduced workplace injuries, which translates to lower workers’ compensation costs, medical expenses, and production downtime.
Positive Work Environment
Providing a safe work environment demonstrates an employer’s commitment to the well-being of its workforce, leading to higher employee morale and job satisfaction.
Challenges and Considerations
While having the proper machine guards in place is essential for any facility to be in compliance with the safety regulations of today, it does have it's own set of challenges. The biggest issue is that the legacy machinery used in most facilities cannot be easily fitted with the latest machine guarding and need to be custom fitted to work properly. And since it's not financially sound to replace a perfectly functioning machine, a custom machine guarding solution makes the most sense.
As part of our Turnkey Machine Guarding Process, our sales engineers make a visit to your facility to perform a collaborative machine guarding assessment, noting the multiple facets and potential hazards of your machine. From there, we create a 3d CAD model and a scope of work summary detailing the best machine guarding setup custom made for your machinery. We'll also handle the installation and train your maintenance crews on preventative maintenance, ensuring that your guarding solution is setup right and properly maintained as it's used.
Having the right machine safety guards designed specifically for your equipment helps protect workers, ensure compliance with safety regulations, and enhance productivity. As manufacturing facilities continue to grow and evolve, machine guarding remains essential for worker well-being and preventing avoidable harm.
