Machine guarding is a must have in every manufacturing working environment, where heavy machinery and moving parts present risk. With over 2 decades of knowledge at Broadbent FabGuard and a UK leader in steel fabrication and machine safety solutions, we understand the importance of correctly designed and installed guards that protect employees and productivity.
In this article, Director Andy Murphy explains what machine guarding is, what hazards it can prevent, the significance of machine guarding and the overall requirements all machine guards must meet.
What is Machine Guarding?
Machine guarding is the incorporation of physical barriers or protective devices to help protect and shield workers from potentially dangerous moving parts of machines, flying debris or accidental contact during machine operation that could cause harm.
Generally, these types of guards are created using steel or mesh and will be designed to:
- Prevent contact with dangerous machine components
- Contain potential flying debris or fragments of excess steel
- Safeguard both the operator of the machine and any nearby staff members
Examples of machine guards that Broadbent FabGuard have created include fixed guards, adjustable guards and interlocked guards. All of which were designed and made for different machinery types.
What is a Machine Guarding Hazard?
This references a risk that is presented by unguarded or poorly guarded machinery. Examples of hazards which you may notice in the workplace are listed below:
- Moving machinery parts – belts, gears, rotating components or pulleys
- Point of machine operation – this is the area where the machine performs the work on the material i.e steel
- Pinch points – where body parts could be clipped or caught between two objects
- Material ejection – grinding or cutting materials can cause shards to fly through the air
It is clear to see that if these hazards are left, they can lead to severe injuries which poses a serious threat to your employees, productivity and business reputation.
What Is Machine Guarding Safety and Why Is It Important?
This is where you are placing not just your business as a priority but the safety of everyone that is within your business. It refers to the systems and standards used to ensure that machinery is operated in a secure fashion and does not prove to be a risk to staff members. Physical guarding solutions should be combined with
- Risk assessments
- PUWER compliance
- Inspection routines
- Clear signage and operator training
It is a pillar of ensuring workplace health and safety to reduce incidents and downtime of the workplace environment. In the United Kingdom, machine guarding must comply with PUWER 98.
In some cases, businesses will have to comply with Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC especially if your machinery has been imported or exported.
At Broadbent FabGuard, we don’t just fabricate, we help protect. Our expert staff have decades of experience in manufacturing custom guards, PUWER assessments and we provide end to end safety solutions across the UK.
Get in Touch
If you are looking to enhance machine safety in your workplace, contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
