The Beginner's Guide to Machine Guarding and Why It's Important

Machine guarding plays an important role in keeping workers safe. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), roughly 18,000 workers are injured per year due to unguarded machinery. OSHA, however, requires the use of machine guarding. It's an essential safety measure that minimizes the risk of machine-related injuries.

What Is Machine Guarding?

Machine guarding is a machinery feature that's designed to separate and shield workers from potentially dangerous parts of a machine. There are many different types of machine guarding, some of which are larger and more complex than others. 

Simple machine guarding, though, may consist of a plastic or metal barrier. The barrier is found between the worker and the machine's potentially dangerous parts. As long as it remains intact, the barrier will protect workers who use the machine from bodily injury. Regardless, machine guarding is a safety feature that separates workers from potentially dangerous parts of a machine.

Common types of machines that feature guarding include lathes, milling machines and drill presses. Some of them have simple guarding. Others have complex guarding. All machine guarding, though, is designed to protect workers from machine-related injury.

Why Machine Guarding Is Important

Working with machines can be dangerous. Machines often have cutting blades or other devices that, if directly exposed to a worker, may cause serious bodily injury. When using a machine, workers may accidentally touch a dangerous part. To prevent this from happening, machines are equipped with physical barriers known as guarding.

There are other safeguards in place to protect workers from machine-related injury. Nonetheless, machine guarding is typically the first line of defense. It sits between workers and the dangerous parts of the machine.

Some machines may become inoperable if the guarding is removed. They are built with failsafe so that won't turn on or otherwise work unless the guarding is intact. Removing the guarding from the machine will make it inoperable.

OSHA has standards for machine guarding. There are machine guarding standards for the maritime industry, the construction industry, the agriculture industry and the general industry. Employers are legally required to comply with the necessary machine guarding standard set by OSHA. You can learn more about OSHA's machine guarding standards by visiting https://www.osha.gov/machine-guarding/standards.

In Conclusion

Machines have revolutionized the way in which businesses produce and sell products. But working with machines can be dangerous. As revealed by OSHA, unguarded machinery is responsible for roughly 18,000 worker injuries per year.