A guard is a shield, cover, casing, or barrier—either physical or electronic used to prevent or restrict access to moving parts or dangerous areas of a plant. Guards can also block harmful emissions, reduce noise and protect people from being struck by ejected parts or materials.
Guarding is one of the key measures used to control risks associated with a plant in the workplace.
Manufacturers, designers and suppliers of plant, machinery and equipment must ensure dangerous parts in a plant are safely guarded so that operators and others are protected from injury.
Guarding responsibilities
Guarding should be considered throughout the plant lifecycle, including during design, manufacture, import, supply, installation, use and maintenance.
All parties involved with plant have a role in ensuring dangerous parts are guarded and that the plant can be operated, cleaned, inspected, maintained and repaired safely. Parties with guarding responsibilities include designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers, installers, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and persons with management or control (PWMCs) of plant.
Workers should be consulted when selecting, changing or reviewing guards and safeguarding systems, as they often have valuable knowledge about how the plant is used and where hazards may arise.
Guarding should be supported with appropriate information, training and supervision so workers can safely operate and maintain a plant.
Identify the hazards
Before selecting or installing guards, PCBUs and other duty holders must identify all hazards associated with the plant.
Hazards associated to plant may include:
- entanglement with moving parts (e.g. loose clothing, jewellery, long hair)
- shearing
- cutting
- impact
- crushing
- stabbing or puncturing hazards
- friction and abrasion hazards
- contact with hot or cold surfaces.
Hazards may arise from the plant itself, the way it is used, the work environment, or interactions between workers and plant.
Managing the risks
Managing the risks of plant involves identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing effective controls and regularly reviewing those controls to ensure they remain effective.
Different guards and safety systems may be needed depending on the type of plant, the task and how often workers need access to dangerous parts / areas. These may include fixed guards, interlocked guards, movable guards, presence-sensing systems, two-hand controls or a combination of these measures.
To help ensure guarding remains effective:
- select guards and safeguarding systems that are appropriate for the hazards and work being performed
- ensure guards remain fitted, functional and are not bypassed or removed when the plant is in use
- inspect, test and maintain guards and other safety devices regularly
- isolate plant before cleaning, maintenance or repair work is undertaken
- train workers in safe work procedures relating to the safe use of plant, guards and other control measures.
Buying, hiring or using second-hand machinery
Before buying, hiring or using second-hand machinery, make sure it is suitable for the task and has the necessary guards and safety features. Check for guards that are missing, outdated, damaged or poorly maintained and fix any issues before the plant is used. Also ask for any available safety information, operating instructions and inspection and maintenance records.
If workers need to reach over, under, around or into machinery while it is running, moving parts must be guarded to prevent contact and other hazards also identified and managed.