Understanding Machinery Guarding

A guard, in the context of machinery, refers to any shield, cover, casing, or physical barrier strategically designed to prevent contact between machine parts and individuals or their clothing. This preventive measure is integral to enhancing the safety of operators and others engaged in machine operation, servicing, and maintenance.

Purpose:The primary aim of machinery guarding is to reduce the risk of injury during normal machine operations. Operators often need to reach over, under, around, or through machines, exposing themselves to potential hazards. Proper guarding ensures these hazards are appropriately addressed.

Standards and Guidance:Adherence to standards such as AS/NZS 2153.1:1997 for tractors and machinery in agriculture and forestry, along with guidance from the Rural Plant Code of Practice 2004, provides essential advice on the proper guarding of agricultural machinery.

Identifying Hazardous Parts

Machinery guarding is particularly crucial for parts that pose injury risks, including:

• Rotating shafts, joints, couplings, gearing, cables, sprockets, chains, clutches, and fan blades.
• Belt, chain, or cable run-on points, provided joints are smooth and without hazardous projections.
• Keyways, keys, grease nipples, set-screws, bolts, or any projections on rotating parts.
• Crushing or shearing points like augers, slide blocks, and conveyor feeds.
• Ground wheels and track gear with adjacent openings or protrusions near operators.
• Power-driven machine parts like rotating knives, blades, or tines engaged in ground or crop operations.
• Components that cut, grind, pulp, crush, break, or pulverize farm produce.
• Hot machine parts exceeding 120°C during normal operation.

Mitigating Risks Through Proper Guarding

Best Practices:

• Guards should be designed practically for user protection while allowing easy access.
• Ensure guards are in place on hazardous machine parts or located out of reach.
• Position guards conveniently to discourage permanent removal.
• Design guards to be strong and durable, tailored to the machine's intended use.
• Protect against ejected material and burns from hot parts, ventilating guards as needed.
• Guards should not be removed before the machine is stopped, isolated, and all sources neutralized.

Safeguarding Children and Machinery

Preventive Measures:

• Especially when children are present, ensure guards are in place on machines.
• Recognize that accidents on farms are preventable, and heightened vigilance is required when little fingers can access unexpected areas.

Enhancing Personal Safety

Key Strategies:

• Redesign work processes to minimize hazards.
• Use properly designed and fitted equipment.
• Consider alternatives with less hazardous machinery, materials, or processes.

By prioritizing machinery guarding, individuals can significantly reduce or eliminate risks, fostering a safer working environment.