Maskinsikring

Maskinsikring, or machine guarding, describes the measures used to prevent injury by restricting access to dangerous parts of machinery. The objective is to reduce exposure to hazards created by moving parts, such as belts, gears, blades, and pinch points, throughout the machine life cycle. Guarding is part of a broader risk reduction strategy that includes design choices, safe operating procedures, training, and maintenance.

Key components of maskinsikring include physical barriers (guards, fences, enclosures), safe access arrangements (interlocked doors, gates with presence-sensing devices), safety distances, and protective devices (emergency stop devices, safety interlocks, light curtains, pressure-sensitive mats). For some systems, safeguarding also involves safe stop categories and controlled restart procedures to ensure the machine cannot re-trigger unexpectedly.

The approach is typically guided by risk assessment and the hierarchy of controls: eliminate or reduce hazards at the source, substitute less hazardous processes, implement engineered safeguards, use administrative measures, and minimize exposure with PPE as a last resort. Compliance with international standards, such as ISO 12100 for risk assessment principles, ISO 13849-1 or EN 954-1 for safety-related control systems, and relevant electrical safety standards, supports consistent safeguarding design. The EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) also governs essential health and safety requirements for machinery, with national regulations complementing these rules.

Responsibility lies with employers and equipment owners to design, install, operate, and maintain adequate guards, and with designers and integrators to embed safeguarding into the machine during development. Regular inspection, testing, and maintenance are required to sustain protective performance.