When it comes to safeguarding personnel from the dangers of industrial equipment, safety fencing is essential in today's production environment. You may find threats to operator safety in a variety of places on a production floor, including automated machinery, process control equipment, robotic work cells, and a variety of other locations.
A physical barrier between risks and operators is an effective, low-tech method for drastically decreasing the risk of harm as well as the associated costs of litigation and machine downtime in the event of an accident.
These five issues should be taken into account prior to putting in place a safety fence system.
1. The Presence Of A Guarded Area
Calculating the size of the area around the hazard is the first and most fundamental step in choosing a industrial safety fence. Once the proportions have been determined, it will be possible to pick the panels and doors that will best suit the space. A wide range of panel widths makes it possible to cover surfaces of various shapes and sizes most effectively.
Right- or left-handed opening, single or double doors, and an appropriate handle type are all other customisable door choices to consider while constructing the system.
2. The Fence's Height Is Important
It is important to choose a fence height that is acceptable in order to avoid injuries that might result from reaching over the top. The ISO 13857 standard specifies the minimum safety distances that must be maintained to prevent upper and lower limbs from coming into contact with danger zones. The horizontal distance between the height of the hazard and the height of the fence depends on the minimum distance from the hazard that can be deemed safe.
3. The Protection of the Operator
It is critical to anticipate the safety circumstances that will be necessary when operators are required to enter the guarding system. A popular technique to safeguard operators is to install a safety interlock door handle and push buttons on the post, which are easily accessible. Operators in the work cell may utilise the signals from these sensors to shut off power to potentially dangerous components while in the work cell.
For many fence systems, the end-user is responsible for the installation of the safety interlock door handle, pushbuttons, and the connection that connects the signals from the safety controller back to the safety controller. Some Industrial safety fences come with an option that includes a pre-wired and installed safety interlock door handle, pushbuttons, and a connection that allows the signals to be sent back to the safety controller, making it more convenient for the operator.
Pre-wired and pre-mounted solutions are a popular choice since they save installation time and provide overall convenience.
4. Simplicity of Installation And Modularity
In most safety fence systems, a significant number of nuts, bolts, and connecting brackets hold everything together. The installation of these systems, although straightforward, maybe labour-intensive and time-consuming. Every bolt needs to be tightened, and keeping the corners square can be really tedious. Furthermore, if the system has to be extended or reorganised, removing the hardware may be time-consuming and difficult.
As a solution to the above problem, a unique mounting solution has been devised that does not need any tools and which helps to modernise the installation process. The panels are secured in place by using fast connect fittings situated on the posts. Fast and easy connection methods may make systems considerably simpler to work with, which is particularly important if the system has to be extended or upgraded.
5. Sturdiness and long-term viability
Safety barriers and guarding systems must be robust enough to withstand unforeseen accidents with workers or carts and the odd forklift. They must also be able to withstand the rigours of a production environment without deteriorating.
Wrapping Up
Following the procedures outlined in this tutorial may assist you in deploying a safety fencing system that is correctly scaled, assures operator safety, and will be durable in the field or workplace.
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