Updated guide lists new machine guarding standards

Procter Machine Guarding has published a new version of its popular free guide to machinery guarding standards . This fifth edition of 'On Your Guard' includes important standards that have been introduced over the preceding 12 months.

Machine guarding is essential if a machine is to operate safely, but machine designers, health and safety managers, health and safety representatives and guarding specifiers are often unaware of the full range of applicable regulations and standards. 'On Your Guard' not only helps in this respect, but it also indicates what the current versions of the standards are so that users can ascertain whether or not they are working with up-to-date standards. As the UK's leading supplier, Procter Machine Guarding is fully aware of the applicable standards in the UK, Europe and beyond, so is ideally positioned to share some of this knowledge.

'On Your Guard' explains the importance of guarding and the ways in which well-designed guards can enhance productivity while ensuring operator safety. It then goes on to describe the requirements of machinery guarding in relation to the Machinery Directive and CE Marking (often an area of confusion and misunderstanding), before listing the main British, European and International standards for machinery and conveyor guarding. One of the most recently published standards and an important addition to 'On Your Guard' is BS EN ISO 13857:2008 'Safety of machinery. Safety distances to prevent hazard zones being reached by upper and lower limbs.'

As well as providing information about standards, the guide also offers advice on risk assessments , how to approach the design of guarding and the specification of the access control system (interlock switches, for example). This will aid the design of cost-effective guards that will deliver an appropriate level of safety and help to deter operators and maintenance personnel from the dangerous practice of attempting to bypass safety measures.

At the rear of the guide there are sections covering Useful Resources and Further Information - which includes contact details for organisations such as the HSE and BSI.

Copies of 'On Your Guard' can be requested free of charge by email from This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or go to the Free Guide Downloads