Machine Guards
The first step in guarding machinery is to identify the hazards and the associated levels of risk. Encourage your staff to read this booklet for ideas and concepts for machine guarding. You may want to ask your staff to walk through the work areas and identify machinery in which moving components or exposed items could cause injury. It is usually not possible to address everything at once, so draw up a plan to rectify items listed in order of priority. In prioritising items for attention consider not only the likelihood of injury but also the severity of the injury. It is also a good idea to arrange inspections by someone who is not necessarily familiar with your plant but is familiar with your industry. In some cases you may want to look for long term as well as immediate solutions. Guarding a machine may be the best solution now, but when replacing the machine in the future an improved machine with built in safety features may be the best option. Look at the safety characteristics of machines when purchasing new equipment and try to get suppliers and manufacturers to fit guards to your specifications. Where you see a widespread problem, alert your industry association to advise suppliers. Poor machine guarding practices are a major hazard confronted by people in the workplace everyday. Approximately 8 out of 10 workplace fatalities and 1 in 4 workplace injuries involve mechanical equipment. Many workplace injuries, caused through machinery are preventable. Exposure to dangerous machine parts during operation, examination, lubrication, adjustment and/or maintenance, pose many risks. If the risk cannot be eliminated it must be minimised. In order to reduce the risk, all machinery must be securely guarded to prevent access to dangerous parts. All guards should be correctly and securely fitted before operating machinery. Machine guarding is vital to every workplace using machinery. It is an essential protection that employers must provide for their workers. Machine guards do not have to be complicated nor interfere with productivity.