Factories and other industrial facilities can be dangerous places. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their workers have the safest possible environment, but it takes more than just providing adequate training. Read on to find out about the machine safety products that can help reduce safety hazards and ensure OSHA compliance.
Automatic Door Actuators
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Automatic door actuators are a type of safety machine guarding designed to detect objects in the path of the door to prevent injuries from crushing or repetitive door operation. They can be used to retrofit existing automatic single or double doors, and set up using pre-programmed control modules.
Factory managers can wire multiple input and output commands into the actuators’ controllers, and employees can avoid both repetitive motion injuries from repeatedly opening and closing heavy safety doors and the potential for crushing accidents.
Automated Machine Safety Doors
These types of automated doors are designed for a more specific purpose. They provide machine guarding in automated work areas that require preventive measures like robotic welding, processing, and transport. Automated machine safety doors conform with OSHA requirements and feature both retaining columns and bottom edge sensing to prevent the door from closing if anyone is in the way.
Pit Covers
Since large machining tools like planer mills are usually installed partially below grade, they’re often surrounded by potentially hazardous pits. There’s no way to cover these pits permanently because repair technicians must be able to get to the machinery to perform maintenance and repairs. Roll-up, walk-on pit covers offer an excellent alternative by allowing partial access without creating a fall risk.
Chemical Tank Covers
Chemical tanks usually hold dangerous materials that off-gas toxic fumes. The tanks should always be kept undercover to prevent fumes from escaping and avoid hazardous spills. Chemical tank covers provide the perfect solution in that they contain evaporative emissions and can be exposed to highly corrosive or high-temperature environments without worrying about product failure.
Safety Clutches
When automated machines become obstructed by rotating parts or access doors, it can create an unnecessary hazard. Installing mechanical slip clutches will create a safer environment for the workers tasked with maintaining machines and removing obstructions. They don’t replace the need for following OSHA regulations on machine guarding, but they do add an extra level of mechanical safety for operators.
Pinch Point Isolation
Many types of scissor lifts, tilt tables, and similar pieces of equipment create potential pinch points because of the way their mechanisms move. The best way to reduce the hazard created by these pinch points is to enclose all moving parts, allowing the machines to move as intended while deterring workers from reaching into hazardous areas.
Pinch point isolation in the form of large-format lift covers or bellows can also help to protect machines against the infiltration of dust, debris, and various foreign objects.
Dust Containment
Some machining tools produce large amounts of dust or other small particles, which can pose a risk to workers’ respiratory health. Machine roof covers and other forms of dust containment help to prevent airborne contamination without obstructing the machine’s production capabilities.
Machine Ventilation and Ductwork
Some motors and engines produce potentially dangerous emissions. Installing ventilation ducts, bellows, and/or motor boots can help to contain dangerous particles and reduce the flame, smoke, and toxicity risks associated with certain transport applications.
Shade Rollers
Shade rollers consist of textile materials attached to industrial-grade spring rollers. They’re designed to act as protective roll-up machine guarding to prevent unintentional contact with dangerous components. Factory owners can also add metal housing to shade rollers to protect the roll-up mechanism.
Telescoping Springs
Telescoping springs help to protect against accidents involving machines with rotating parts. Use them on machine tools that feature ball screws or spindles.
The Benefits of Adequate Machine Guarding
All of these various forms of protective equipment have at least one thing in common. They’re designed to maximize worker safety in potentially hazardous industrial environments. However, adequate machine guarding won’t just protect workers. It will also:
Ensure OSHA Compliance
OSHA requires some types of safety equipment in industrial workplaces to ensure a minimum level of worker protection. Failing to meet the organization’s strict regulations can lead to serious problems for industrial facilities including often substantial fines.
Protect the Company’s Reputation
Violating OSHA’s safety rules or otherwise ignoring the health and wellbeing of workers is a great way to damage a company’s reputation. Today’s buyers, including both businesses and individual consumers, are far more socially conscious than they were in the past. They expect factories to take care of their workers, and if they find that a factory has a reputation for ignoring worker safety concerns, buyers will take their money elsewhere.
Reduce Downtime
Both worker injuries and the damage to the machines that occurs, as a result, can cause unnecessary downtime. Protecting against unintentional intrusion into dangerous machining areas helps to keep workers safe and prevent injuries, which can reduce downtime and improve worker productivity.
Reduce Cleaning Needs
Many machines produce sawdust, paint, sparks, and other hazardous materials. Adding adequate mechanical protection won’t just prevent these hazardous projectiles from flying towards workers. It will also help to contain the debris, making the whole factory floor much easier to keep clean.
Eliminate Wasted Space
Some types of machines guarding open up usable space around machines by reducing or eliminating the hazards associated with walking, standing, or working nearby. Factory operators can then reconfigure their equipment to make better use of 100% of their floor space.
Boost Employee Morale
Factory workers want to know that a company’s higher-ups care about their safety. Installing adequate protective measures can help to boost morale, which can, in turn, reduce employee turnover and help to keep the whole team motivated and productive.
Place an Order Today
Ready to improve safety, compliance, and employee morale in a warehouse or on a factory floor? It’s time to reach out to an industrial safety product manufacturer who can help. Factory owners can browse available products or get in touch to discuss specific needs, then place an order online when they are ready.
