Machine Safeguarding Philosophies

A guard should:

• Preferably be a built-in feature
• Provide for machine oiling, inspection, adjustment and repair
• Last as long as the machine
• Resist normal wear and shock
• Not constitute a hazard itself
• Provide against contingencies, not just normal operations.
• Provide positive protection
• Prevent ALL access to the danger zone
• Cause the operator No discomfort
• Not interfere with production
• Operate automatically or with minimum effort
• Be designed for the job and the machine

A guard has but one purpose, that purpose is to protect someone from contact with a point of danger. Any guard that does not do this fails its purpose.

Common sense does NOT allow one to recognize:

1. The Hazard
2. The Risk
3. The Gravity of the Risk
4. The "Unreasonableness" of the Risk
5. The Safety Engineering Alternative
   1. It is impossible for a worker to keep his mind on what he is doing 100% of the time
   2. Inattention is a major cause of injuries
   3. Hazards should be eliminated if possible
   4. Efficient guards can prevent incidents
   5. The perfect guard will function regardless of anything the operator might do
   6. Designers, suppliers, and users have a duty to provide safe machinery
   7. The injury or death could have been avoided
   8. To err is human - to forgive design
   9. Inadvertence is not negligence
   10. Common sense may actually cause injuries