Problem
The machinery guarding regulations impose obligations on employers to guard dangerous parts of machinery to prevent injury. Guillotines fall within these regulations and must be guarded.
Solution
The following illustrates a practical example of the type of guarding arrangements that are required.
- Firstly, the belts and drive pulley are totally enclosed by wire mesh which is fixed in place.
- A solid guard, the length of the cutting blade, is positioned immediately in the front of the blade to ensure bodily access is eliminated.
- The rear of the guillotine is completely guarded in wire mesh to prevent access. The guard is extended at the rear of the guillotine and is positioned to allow the off-cuts to fall into a holder designed for this purpose. This also eliminates the need for the operator to collect cut pieces from the machine itself.
Hierarchy of Controls:
Engineering
Benefits
- The new guarding arrangements have the advantage of decreasing the manual handling required.
- Resulting in less injuries such as cuts which had been occurring through contact with the off-cut materials.