Last edit: 25/01/2024
Guards and protective devices, also defined as Safeguards, shall be used to protect persons whenever an inherently safe design measure does not reasonably make it possible either to remove hazards or to sufficiently reduce risks.
3.21 safeguarding. Protective measure using safeguards to protect persons from the hazards which cannot reasonably be eliminated or risks which cannot be sufficiently reduced by inherently safe design measures
3.26 safeguard. Guard or protective device
3.27 guard. Physical barrier, designed as part of the machine to provide protection
NOTE 1 A guard may act either
⎯ alone, in which case it is only effective when “closed” (for a movable guard) or “securely held in place” (for a fixed guard), or
⎯ in conjunction with an interlocking device with or without guard locking, in which case protection is ensured whatever the position of the guard.
NOTE 2 Depending on its construction, a guard may be described as, for example, casing, shield, cover, screen, door, enclosing guard.
3.28 protective device. Safeguard other than a guard
Complementary protective measures involving additional equipment, for example the emergency stop equipment, may have to be implemented.
The primary purpose of guards and protective devices is to protect persons against hazards by moving parts, which exact choice shall be made on the basis of the risk assessment.
The selection of an appropriate safeguard for a particular machinery or hazard zone is based on the frequency of access, varying from a fixed guard to movable interlocking guard and sensitive equipment, or either the combination of safeguards can also be required.
Where access to the hazard zone is not required during normal operation of the machinery, safeguards can be fixed guards, interlocking guards with or without guard locking, self-closing guards and sensitive protective equipment.
Where access to the hazard zone is required during normal operation of the machinery, safeguards can be interlocking guards with or without guard locking, sensitive protective equipment, adjustable guards, self-closing guards, two-hand control devices and interlocking guard with a start function.
Guards and protective devices shall be compatible with the working environment of the machine and designed so that they cannot be easily defeated.
The function that guards can achieved are:
- prevention of access to the space enclosed by the guard and/or
- containment of materials, workpieces, liquids which can be ejected or dropped by the machine, and reduction of emissions that can be generated by the machine.
