Machinery guarding
Physical barriers or safeguards on machinery that prevent access to dangerous parts or trap operators. Guarding is the principal engineering control for machinery-related injury prevention.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“machinery guarding”Exact equivalentPUWER 1998 regulation 11 requires that measures be taken to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to stop the movement of a dangerous part before any person enters a danger zone. Regulation 12 allows guards to be used as protection from specified hazards. Guards must meet the requirements of regulation 11(3): be suitable, of good construction, maintained and not create other risks.
Irish HSA
“machinery guarding”Close equivalentThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (Part 2, Chapter 1) implement the EU Work Equipment Directive requirements for guarding. Moving parts that could cause accidents must be fitted with guards or other devices to prevent access to danger zones.
US OSHA
“machine guarding”Close equivalentOSHA 29 CFR 1910.212 requires general machine guarding for one or more employees whenever a machine or operation presents a hazard. Guards must prevent contact with the point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Additional standards cover specific machine types (power presses: 1910.217; woodworking: 1910.213).
Practitioner note: Removing a guard to clear a blockage is the classic injury sequence. Design out the need for access, or interlock it.