The Importance Of Machine Guarding & Safety In Production Environments
When it comes to machine technology used in production environments, equipment continues to get faster, more efficient, and more powerful every year. Where human interaction is required in the machining process, however, it remains as essential as ever that proper safeguards are put in place to help prevent injuries.
Injuries from machines can range from the minor to the major, and even potentially fatal - this means that adequate machine guard provisions are a key consideration for any production concern.
But what is a machine guard, and why do you actually need them?
What Is A Machine Guard?
A machine guard is, as the name implies, a guard that protects a user from the dangerous elements of a machine. This could be the implement itself, such as a saw or a blade, or from the mechanism that allows the machine to run.
As machines continue to get more powerful, their capacity to seriously wound an operator grows in kind. The machine guard is there to help prevent any part of a person from getting too close to the dangerous parts of a machine, which could cause cuts, lacerations, and even worse injuries.
For highly automated machines, guards and barriers help to maintain a safe distance between the machinery and staff or visitors within the facility, to avoid the risk of injury should individuals come into contact with potentially dangerous equipment.
What Type Of Machine Guards Are There?
There are many different machine guards available, depending on the situation they're used in and the equipment they're used for. When looking at machine guards, there are options to protect the operator while using the machine, as well as options to offer protection to employees in the wider warehouse environment.
Machine guard systems are available with a wide range of configurable components that include full height panels, standard and heavy duty posts, locks and panic bars. This enables the ideal solution to be implemented for any warehouse or production environment, including to prevent employees from coming into contact with dangerous machinery, as well as containing parts and debris from leaving the designated area in the event of equipment failure.
Mesh Partitions
Usually constructed from high strength steel mesh, this solution creates a secure partition around machinery or equipment to prevent individuals from accessing the space, ensuring a safe distance is maintained between machinery and people. Within a warehouse or production environment, mesh partitions are used to create a suitable space in which to house the equipment, which can include robotised production lines as well as other machinery.
Barrier Protection
Barrier protection offers a strong, secure and visible barrier around machinery, equipment and other areas of a facility. This prevents accidents such as forklifts from crashing into machinery, and also ensures employees can easily see potentially dangerous areas of the warehouse. Barrier protection systems are adaptable and versatile, and can be used for multiple applications around the warehouse.
Mesh Cages
Mesh cages provide a secure barrier that surrounds potentially dangerous machinery and equipment, so that it cannot be accessed by employees unless necessary. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, mesh security cages are available in a range of size options to house various types of machinery, and can be configured to include access gates as well as solid partitioning.
Steel Partitions
Unlike mesh cages or fencing options, steel partitions provide a fully enclosed barrier solution and can be used to create machine or equipment housing. Steel partitions can be used effectively not only to minimise risk from injury involved with contact with machinery and equipment, but also to reduce noise from machines that may be above acceptable levels.
Static Guards
Static guards, otherwise known as fixed guards, are often directly attached to the machine or the tool in question. There are usually no moving parts, and they're designed to remain firmly in place whenever the machine is in use. They will often need to be removed or otherwise disassembled before maintenance of the machine, as they're integral parts of the machine or tool's design.
Adjustable Guards
These too are fixed features of a machine or tool, however, they can often be adjusted. This is usually to allow the machine to process different thicknesses and sizes of material. There will be some degree of manual adjustment required, at which point the guard must be locked back in place. It's essential all operators are trained in the proper usage of an adjustable guard on any tool.
Self-Adjusting Guards
These guards have the same purpose as manually adjustable guards, however, they require no manual interaction from an operator in order to do so. When the machine is not in use, the guards will often sit in a down or "closed" position, then when the machine is in use, it will open up the guard just enough to allow the feeding of material into the machine as safely as possible.
Interlock Guards
Otherwise known as barrier guards, these are designed to automatically cut the power source or otherwise disable the machine when the guard is detected to be open or removed. This can be vital when manual intervention is sometimes required from an operator in potentially dangerous parts of the machine, such as clearing material blockages or other jams.
The Materials Of Choice
There are many different options available when it comes to machine guarding solutions. There are mesh partitions and mesh cages, for example, as well as steel partitions designed to provide the maximum possible protection.
Steel is an excellent material to use as it's lightweight when used in mesh form, but also very strong and durable, allowing for long term returns on your investment.
The way to determine the right solution for you is to establish what your business needs are. This can be done by looking at the machines your business uses, and where the potential for injuries lie with your operators.
It's an essential component of warehouse safety to ensure that any machines, tools, or dangerous areas are appropriately partitioned and guarded as necessary.
Do You Legally Have To Have Guards?
As a part of the official HSE guidelines employers have the following obligation:
"You should also ensure that risks created by using the equipment are eliminated where possible or controlled as far as reasonably practicable by taking appropriate ‘hardware’ measures, e.g. providing suitable guards, protection devices, markings and warning devices, system control devices (such as emergency stop buttons) and personal protective equipment."
That means that as a part of your general HSE obligations you're obliged to provide proper machine guards for your operatives to use, and to install appropriate guarding solutions to prevent employees from coming into contact with potentially dangerous machinery where necessary.
Failure to do this could lead to you contravening official HSE guidelines, which could carry all manner of potential fines and sanctions and could even lead to prosecution in the event of a serious accident or egregious breach.
While complying with a certain set of machine guarding standards is not actually compulsory, in practice the best way for businesses to evidence compliance with health and safety requirements is to use standards that adhere to the European Machinery Directive.
In relation to workplace machinery, the main standard is BS EN ISO 141202. This standard includes specifics for the design, construction and installation of guards including both fixed and moveable guards, and covers everything from smaller pieces of equipment through to conveyor systems, processing and production machinery as well as robotics.
Therefore, using BS EN ISO 141202 is generally regarded as the most suitable way of ensuring compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation.
It's important that employees are thoroughly trained in the safe use of your machines, and the way the guards you have installed operate is a part of this. This is as essential as providing eye and ear protection, and ensuring appropriate footwear is worn.
Using Mesh Partitions For Safety
Appropriate safety guarding is not just a case of protection machinery, however. It may be a key consideration to partition off various sections of your workspace, in order to better divide different areas. This can also have the added benefit of helping ensure that no unauthorised personnel are allowed access to open areas where they should not be.
Mesh partitioning is a lightweight, strong, and affordable option that allows you a truly modular solution. This means you're able to adapt your guards and partitions to the exact space you're working with.
Mesh partitions are constructed using a mixture of steel posts and mesh fence panels, which can be different sizes depending on your needs. They're strong, secure, and suitable for use in all manner of production environments. This could be for your storage areas, machining areas, production areas, or any other area where you want a convenient and modular solution to increase security and limit footfall.
Understanding Your Options & Obligations
Knowing your obligations when it comes to providing a safe working environment is key. With that you can begin to look at the available options you have to help ensure the risk of employee injury, and the assorted risks and tribulations that come with it, is kept to a complete minimum.
Tailored Mesh & Steel Partitioning Solutions
If you require partitioning systems for machine guarding or other workplace safety or security reasons, contact Avanta to discuss the options available.
At Avanta, we’ve been designing and supplying a full range of commercial warehouse and production solutions for over 20 years, including everything from bespoke racking and storage systems to mezzanine floors and complete warehouse refits for the engineering sector. With access to a comprehensive range of the latest products, we can advise on the most suitable solution for the individual needs of your business.