Machine Guarding & Safety

Machine guarding and safety equipment offers protection for workers across a broad range of industries that rely on automation and industrial controls. Examples include food and beverage, utilities, construction and several others in which the use of adequate machine safety equipment is often a regulatory requirement.

As experts in automation, we are an authorized distributor of industrial guarding products from dozens of world-class manufacturers. From emergency stop buttons to safety relays, light curtains and barriers, you can find a vast selection in stock and ready to ship today.

Browse our online range and filter by category and manufacturer to find the right equipment for your application. You can also read on to understand more about why automation machine guarding is necessary, as well as its different applications and types.

What is machine guarding?

The United States’ Occupational Safety & Health Administration advises:

‘Any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded. When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injure the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled.’

Machine guarding is therefore the installation of protective equipment in factory automation environments to protect machine operators or others in the vicinity from harm.

Different types of physical guards can be installed on moving parts or around a fixed perimeter where automated equipment performs a designated function. Machine safety devices are controls or attachments installed at access points to prevent inadvertent worker access, typically by cutting power.

Where is machine safety necessary?

The role of automation is growing in a diverse set of sectors including retail, infrastructure, construction, and manufacturing. Industrial guarding and safety equipment is required in any application where automated processes or machinery could pose a risk to humans.

More specifically, its use is necessary in three areas that are most likely to cause injury:

• The point of operation: The area where an action or process is performed, such as cutting, shaping, or boring.
• Power transmission equipment: The components that transfer energy to the part of the machine performing the operation, including pulleys, belts, couplings, chains, cranks, and gears.
• Other moving parts: Any other parts that move while a machine is in operation.

There are also common motions and actions used within industrial automation processes that present danger to workers. Recognizing them and using appropriate machine guarding equipment is key to ensuring worker safety. Hazardous motions and actions include:

• Rotating
• Reciprocating
• Cutting
• Punching
• Shearing
• Bending

What are the benefits of industrial guarding?

All employers should create a safe working environment for employees. Machine safety measures can help prevent a variety of injuries to machine operators, from cuts, burns, and abrasions to more serious lacerations, crushing, or even amputation. Other personnel can meanwhile be protected from debris, sparks, and splinters.

Beyond this primary purpose, industrial guarding equipment also prevents unnecessary accidents damaging costly machinery or disrupting production. Correct installation can also ensure businesses comply with relevant worker safety regulations.

What are the different types of machine guarding?

Machine safety equipment can be broadly categorized in three ways detailed below.

Point of operation guarding

Point guarding refers to physical guards, barriers, or other safety accessories affixed to the moving parts on a machine that perform a function and pose a hazard to anyone who could come into contact with them.

Fixed perimeter guarding

Perimeter guarding equipment is placed around a larger work area where an automated machine performs a function, such as a moving robotic arm. Wire partitions are most common, but light curtains and safety mats can also be used for this purpose.

Safety devices

Safeguarding devices can be tied into a machine’s control circuit and typically function to stop or alter its operations when triggered. Examples include safety relays, cable pull switches, emergency stop buttons, laser scanners, and solenoid interlock switches.

Who is responsible for machine guarding?

Responsibility falls on both the machinery manufacturer and the end user to assess what level and type of machine guarding is required to work safely and comply with legislation.

A machine’s manufacturer will assess its possible use and misuse, including dangerous factors such as the point of operation, power transmission, and other moving parts discussed above. The end user should conduct an initial risk assessment of its setup, operation, and maintenance once within its intended environment, then repeat these checks on a regular basis.

Why choose RS for machine safety equipment?

Automation can be incredibly valuable for increasing efficiency, production quality, and productivity – and machine guarding ensures these gains don’t come at a cost.

RS is North America’s leading distributor of machine safety equipment. We stock an extensive range from trusted manufacturers, with each product meeting the highest of industry standards. Once you have selected the items you need, our exceptional service and logistics capabilities enable us to ship them to you as quickly as possible.

Browse our products online today and filter by category or manufacturer to narrow down your options. You can also contact our team if you have any questions regarding automation machine guarding, or head to our expert advice hub to read our latest guides and updates.