Machine Safeguarding - R-V Industries, Inc.

Types of Machine Safeguards

Understanding the different types of machine safeguarding starts with a clear understanding of the definitions. Each type of machine safeguard has features, benefits, and drawbacks that are specifically suited for machinery based on a variety of factors including:

Access frequency
Potential risk/injury severity
Practicality
Location

While this list is not comprehensive, considering each of these factors for every machine or entire process in your facility can help guide the safeguarding decision process. These factors will make it easy to navigate common scenarios that we encounter: preventative maintenance access for maintenance personnel, maintaining maximum visibility for machinery operators, and other process requirements.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen (or read the script) to Mike Plesnarski, the Engineering Services division manager, discuss the Safeguarding Process and things to look for on the latest “Get Sparked” podcast.

Interlocked Guards

A milling machine with a control panel on the right side, showing a workpiece secured in place on the table. Various buttons, a screen with digital displays, and emergency stop buttons are visible on the control panel. The machine is situated inside a workshop. — Interlocked doors shut down machinery, such as this vertical machining center, upon door open.

When activated, this guard type disengages power to the machine, stops any moving parts, and prevents the machine from restarting until the guard is returned to the operational state.

Moveable Guards

A fenced-off industrial area with a sign reading "DANGER" on the fence. To the right, there is a control box with wires and a knob, featuring a warning triangle symbol on it. The background shows additional industrial equipment. — A door provides a movable guard without the need for tooling remove the guard.

When access to the machine is frequently required, such as for maintenance and operations, movable guards with interlocking features protect operators and maintenance technicians.

Sensing Devices

A safety light curtain with red laser beams is shown. It consists of two yellow vertical pillars facing each other, projecting multiple parallel red beams across the gap between them. A gray rectangular box is placed between the beams. — Sensing devices, such as the light curtains shown, prevent machines from operating when triggered.

When physical guarding is not possible, the stop distance formula (summarized in the eBook) is used with sensing devices to cease hazardous motion before an injury occurs.

OUR MACHINE SAFEGUARDING PROCESS

The engineering service team’s goal in reviewing any safeguarding project is to maximize safety while maintaining machine, operator, and maintenance functionality in an economically viable way. To achieve these results, we follow a proven method for complete facility analysis:

Identify hazards by completing a team-based risk assessment
Based on the results, create a prioritized list of machines that require safeguards
Meet with safety team members to determine which type of guard to utilize for each hazard
Develop designs
Implement safeguarding on the machinery

Get the Safeguarding eBook

To get our full review of machine safeguarding, including the types, definitions, stop distance formula, and reach through standards, fill out the form to get our entire eBook.

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