TABLE OF CONTENTS To be effective, guards and safeguarding devices must be pertinent to the application and be applied in a manner that will ensure the desired levels of protection. This part looks at the different types of guards that can be used, the techniques to make their application effective and gives typical examples. It also considers techniques of non-physical protection through the use of trips, interlocks and layout of controls. Since most machines are now powered by electricity, electrical controls and control systems of increasing complexity are being developed to match the complexity of modern machinery. Perhaps one of the most unpredictable aspects of safety in the operation of machinery is the operator. By applying ergonomic techniques to the design of safeguards the temptation to by-pass or defeat them is greatly reduced. All these facets of safeguarding are considered in this part.
The object of a guard is to prevent access into the danger zone or to parts of a machine that could cause injury. The type of guard used will depend on the type of machine, the process and operating needs. Generally the term guard refers to a fixed barrier between the operator and the dangerous part of the machine.
The particular hazards to be guarded against will be identified from the findings of the risk assessment and risk reduction investigation. A number of safeguarding techniques are available and it...
