Packaging Machine Safety Guards, Controls and Services
June 19, 2024
Packaging Machine Safety Guards, Controls and Services
In any industrial or commercial setting where packaging equipment is being used, safety is essential to the continuity of your operations. As the one responsible for maintaining or operating packaging machinery, it's up to you to ensure that your workers are protected from potential hazards.
This is where packaging equipment safety guards, controls, and services are invaluable. By implementing appropriate safeguards, you minimize risk, improve your equipment's reliability, and maximize your overall productivity.
Machine Guarding and Safety Services for Packaging Machines
At Stronghold Safety Engineering, our team of experts empower you to identify potential hazards, assess risk, and develop a comprehensive plan. We offer several machine guarding and safety services for your packaging operations, including:
3 Types of Machine Safeguarding for Your Packaging Equipment
When it comes to safeguarding packaging equipment, there are three basic areas that we cover:
The Point of Operation
The Power Transmission Apparatus
The Operating Controls
The Point of Operation
The point of operation is the area where the work is performed on the material being processed by the machine. This area must be guarded to prevent workers from coming into contact with moving parts or other hazards.
The Power Transmission Apparatus
The power transmission apparatus includes all the components that transmit energy from the power source to the point of operation, such as pulleys, belts, chains, and gears. These components must be properly guarded to prevent workers from getting caught in or struck by moving parts.
The Operating Controls
Operating controls include all the buttons, switches, levers, and other devices that workers use to operate the machine. These controls must be located in a safe area and properly guarded to prevent accidental activation.
The 4 Types of Packaging Machinery Safety Guards
To cover these basic areas, we suggest four general types of guards:
Adjustable Guards
Fixed Guards
Interlocked Guards
Self-Adjusting Guards
Adjustable Guards
Adjustable guards can be easily repositioned to accommodate different sizes of materials or different types of operations.
Fixed Guards
Fixed guards are physical barriers that are permanently attached to the machine to prevent access to the hazardous area.
Interlocked Guards
Interlocked guards are designed to shut off the machine or prevent it from starting if the guard is opened or removed.
Self-Adjusting Guards
Self-adjusting guards move automatically to accommodate changes in the size or shape of the material being processed.
OSHA Requirements for Packaging Machine Guarding
OSHA machine guarding requirements maximize safety and productivity in your packaging operations. These requirements are designed to ensure that workers are protected from hazards such as rotating parts, flying debris, and electrical hazards.
In addition to the areas we’ve already mentioned, some key requirements include:
Electrical Hazards: Electrical components of the machine must be properly grounded, and all electrical hazards must be identified and addressed.
Maintenance and Inspection: Machines must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure that guards are in place and in good condition.
Who is Responsible for Industrial Machine Guarding?
As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that your workers are protected from hazards associated with the machines they operate. OSHA places the responsibility for machine guarding on the employer, and failure to comply with OSHA regulations can result in fines, penalties, and legal liability.
However, you don't have to do it alone. By working with machine guarding experts, you ensure that your packaging equipment is properly safeguarded and that your workers are protected from harm.
Why Confer with Experts to Safeguard Your Packaging Machinery?
When it comes to safeguarding your packaging machinery, it's important to collaborate with experienced professionals. Here are just a few reasons why:
Expertise
Compliance
Personalization
Cost-Effectiveness
Expertise
Our team of experts has the knowledge and experience necessary to identify potential hazards, assess risk, and develop comprehensive solutions to protect your workers and equipment.
Compliance
By working with us, you can ensure that your packaging equipment is in compliance with OSHA regulations and other industry standards.
Personalization
We understand that every packaging operation is unique, and we develop customized solutions to meet your specific needs and requirements.
Cost-Effectiveness
By identifying and addressing potential hazards, we enable you to reduce equipment downtime, increase productivity, and avoid costly fines and penalties.
Collaborate with the Machine Guard Experts at Stronghold Safety
At Stronghold®️ Safety Engineering, we are committed to providing the highest level of machine guarding and safety services for packaging equipment.
We offer an expansive range of services, from machine guarding assessments and risk consultation to guard installation and OSHA compliance auditing.
Don't take chances with the safety of your workers and packaging equipment. To safeguard your operations, reach out to our team today.