OSHA Machine Guarding: How Rear-Guard^® Can Help

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets guidelines and safety standards that govern commercial and industrial facilities, construction sites, and remote work applications. OSHA machine guarding standards focus on guarding hardware and essential safety processes that protect workers from machinery. Unguarded commercial and industrial machinery can cause injuries, including:

• Crushed fingers or hands
• Amputations
• Blindness
• Burns

Some machine-guarding installations can physically obstruct people from reaching hazardous equipment, while other machine-guarding systems require two-handed controls or authorized access. North American Safety Products, Inc. develops machine guarding solutions like Rear-Guard^®, our portable and modular accordion barricades, to create OSHA-compliant barriers. Learn more about how to equip your facility and worksites with the right OSHA machine-guarding products.

Understanding OSHA Machine Guarding Guidelines

OSHA standards and guidelines lay out specific requirements for processes, training, and hardware that adequately meet required safety criteria. OSHA 1910 standards define minimally acceptable practices in general industry, and various subsections of 1910 apply to different industrial workplace hazards. Under OSHA 1910.212, machines identified as potential hazards must utilize one or more OSHA-compliant solutions to protect workers from harm.

Some of the most common sources of potential injury from workplace equipment include:

• Sparks, such as from welding equipment or industrial power sources
• Flying chips from machining equipment
• Rotating parts on process equipment or manufacturing machines
• Ingoing nip points on cutting tools
• Heavy weights and crushing elements on hydraulic presses
• Sharp blades on lathes and saws

There are multiple strategies businesses can use to follow OSHA guidelines and pair the right protections with various equipment. Popular options include two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, and physical barriers. Physical barriers like gates and barricades can cordon off dangerous equipment at all times or be quickly moved into place during active operations. As a general rule, safety systems should be installed directly onto the machinery they guard, but they can be attached to other points if necessary. Safety systems should also prevent risks of injury or harm from the equipment without creating additional hazards.

Why Rear-Guard^® Is an Ideal Machine Guarding Solution

North American Safety Products produces Rear-Guard^®, a line of accordion-style collapsible barricades that operators can quickly set up and take down. Both commercial and industrial sites can install Rear-Guard^® around dangerous equipment to minimize unauthorized access. These barricades can also sit at the entry and exit of warehouse aisles or different sections of industrial sites to quickly prevent access or manage on-site traffic.

The benefits of using Rear-Guard^® include:

• Ease of use. The barricades are easy to install, set up, and collapse. Users can quickly expand the barricade into place in seconds. It’s even possible to attach multiple Rear-Guard^® barricade units to create longer sections. Each Rear-Guard^® is only 25 pounds for easy transport.
• Versatility. Facilities can use Rear-Guard^® barricades to completely enclose dangerous equipment, mark unsafe areas during business operations, and direct the flow of traffic.
• Safety. Rear-Guard^® can prevent proximity to industrial hazards. They also don’t introduce new safety hazards, satisfying OSHA requirements.

How Rear-Guard^® Helps You Stay OSHA-Compliant

Rear-Guard^® barricades are incredibly versatile, and safety teams can install them throughout commercial or industrial worksites to comply with OSHA machine guarding requirements. Whether you want to establish a clear perimeter, restrict access, or direct the flow of foot traffic, our accordion barricades can help. For even clearer adherence to safety best practices, each gate is available in high-visibility NRC-, DOT-, and OSHA-standard safety colors.

Protect Workers and Meet OSHA Standards With Rear-Guard^®

Keep your facility safer and ready for your next workplace audit with OSHA-compliant machine guarding solutions like Rear-Guard^® from North American Safety Products. We produce all our barricades in the United States, and we’re committed to creating high-quality products your teams can rely on when using hazardous equipment. Contact us today to learn more about our safety products, or request a quote for pricing details.