Page 329 - IGC BOOK

Control Measures for Machinery Hazards 9.4

Machinery Safeguarding Methods

Guards are physical barriers which prevent access to the danger parts of the machine while it is in
motion.

Hierarchy of Machinery Guarding

In order to decide on the most appropriate guarding for different parts of the machine, it is
essential to undertake a formal risk assessment to determine risk.

A machinery risk assessment involves identifying significant hazards and for each one, evaluating
the likelihood of occurrence, frequency of exposure, degree of possible harm and number of
persons at risk. Having identified which risks need to be reduced, suitable safeguards can be
considered. It is then essential that the risks are reviewed to establish whether controls have,
indeed, sufficiently reduced the risks.

Your control strategy should follow the Hierarchy of Machinery Guarding as follows:

• Fixed enclosed guards.
• Other guards or protection devices such as interlocked guards and pressure-sensitive mats.
• Protection appliances such as jigs, holders and push-sticks.

• The provision of information, instruction, training and supervision.

All guards and protection devices and their designs should

• be suitable for the purpose for which they are provided

• good construction, sound material and adequate strength
• maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair

• not give rise to any increased risk to health or safety
• should not be easily bypassed or disabled

• situated at sufficient distance from the danger zone
• not unduly restrict the view of the operating cycle of the machinery, where such a view is
necessary
• constructed or adapted that they allow operations necessary to fit or replace parts and for
maintenance work, without the need to dismantle the guard or protection device.

ENSIGN | Unit IG2 – Element 9 – Work 13
Equipment