Planning machine guarding as a system

Industrial guarding is more than mesh panels. Access, visibility, interfaces and maintenance routes should be considered together.

6 min read
Yellow machine safety guarding enclosing an industrial robot

Set the guarded zone

Start with the machine footprint, risk area, operator positions and the points that need controlled access.

Coordinate panels, doors and posts

A modular layout is easier to plan when panels, upright posts, door openings and fixing points are reviewed as one enclosure.

Keep maintenance in the brief

State any maintenance access, cable routes or removable sections at the first review. They affect the layout before fabrication begins.