Staff Info
Seth LaRue
Safety-Focused Controls Engineer
Executive Overview
Seth LaRue is a Controls Engineer at PowerSafe Automation who blends electrical and control system expertise with machine safety strategy to deliver dependable, production-ready safety systems. His focus is on ensuring that engineered safety solutions — especially machine guarding retrofits — include robust and reliable control logic that performs consistently in real-world manufacturing environments.
Seth works closely with safety engineers, mechanical designers, and project teams to bridge the gap between physical machine guarding and dependable control performance. He believes a successful machine safety retrofit is more than hardware — it’s a coordinated combination of physical protection and dependable control logic.
Core Focus Areas
Control system design for machine safety and retrofit integration
Safety logic development and safety PLC applications
Control reliability assessment and improvement strategy
Safety device integration: safety relays, e-safety devices, and sensors
Stop-time coordination and layered protection engineering
Under Seth’s direction, PowerSafe Automation delivers control solutions that support both compliance and production continuity — minimizing downtime while maximizing machine safety performance.
Approach to Controls Engineering & Guarding Retrofits
Seth’s process for machine guarding retrofit control design is structured and pragmatic:
Evaluate current control architectures and risk exposure
Define required safety performance based on risk assessment
Engineer layered protection logic — coordinated with physical guarding
Select and integrate safety devices for reliable operation
Validate control performance, maintainability, and uptime reliability
His approach ensures control systems deliver the safety outcomes manufacturers expect — from the floor to the PLC and back.
Problems Seth Solves
Safety control logic that triggers unnecessary downtime
Control systems missing performance level documentation
Disconnected physical guarding and control safety integration
Retrofits with unreliable or bypass-prone safety device behavior
Control reliability gaps that interrupt production
Seth collaborates with plant engineers, safety managers, and project leads to deliver control solutions that are both safe and practical.
Industries Supported
Seth supports machine safety and guarding retrofit projects across a range of manufacturing sectors.
Each control solution and machine safety retrofit aligns with:
OSHA 1910.212 – General Requirements for Machine Guarding
ANSI B11.19 – Performance Criteria for Safeguarding
ISO 13849-1 – Safety-Related Parts of Control Systems
Compliance informs design, but reliable control execution enables success.
Professional Philosophy
Seth believes that safe machines must do more than protect people — they must perform reliably, day in and day out.
“Dependable control logic is the backbone of any effective safety retrofit. It’s not safe unless it’s reliable.”
His work prioritizes clarity, functionality, and real-world machine performance.
Connect With Seth
If your facility is planning a machine guarding retrofit, needs help with safety logic design, or is evaluating control reliability improvements, Seth brings structured engineering insight and practical execution to your safety systems.
