Machinery Guarding

Introduction

This course provides training on the essentials of machinery guarding to those who work closely with machinery in their own organisation. The course explains the requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and provides delegates with a thorough knowledge of this legislation (as it affects machinery guards) and the duties of an employer to provide safely guarded equipment for their employees to use. The course covers the implications of modifying machines and how to effectively fit and maintain guards. It also gives practical, hands-on advice on how to evaluate the safety of machines and the suitability of guards using a checklist.

The course is delivered by a mixture of classroom presentations and practical sessions in your factory to help practically identify issues and evaluate machinery.

Learning outcomes

Delegates will be provided with information that will help them to:

• Know the basic guarding requirements of PUWER
• Know the machine guarding modifications that are allowed under PUWER
• Have an overview of designs for guards and guard dimensions
• Know the modifications to control systems allowed under PUWER
• Know how to safety fit and maintain guards
• Understand the methods for evaluating safety issues

What the course will cover

1. Classroom topics

The topics covered are as follows:

• The legal requirements for guards and safety protection devices
• Deciding when moving parts are safe by design and when they need to be guarded
• Requirements for fixed guards
• Requirements for interlocking guards
• Correct dimensions for enclosing guards
• Choosing interlocking devices for guards
• Correct dimensions for distance guards
• Strategies to prevent a machine being started when someone is inside guards
• Requirements for safety protection devices

2. Practical evaluation of guards in the factory

Evaluate your machinery in the factory, this can be done either with the machine running or when it is isolated.

The activities are as follows:

• Measuring guards
• Assessing guards and protection devices against the legal requirements using the guarding checklist
• Identifying safety issues with guards
• Taking photographs of safety issues

3. Evaluation of findings and plenary

This final session takes place in the classroom and delegates work in groups to complete their guarding checklist and ensure that they adequately described the safety issues they have found so they can be communicated to higher management. Each group then describes what they have found to the other delegates.

The activities include the following:

• Completing the checklist
• Evaluating the safety issues which have been identified
• Reporting findings to all the delegates

Who should attend

This course is suitable for anyone who is involved in the design, maintenance and inspection of guards and safety protection devices.  This will include maintenance engineers, project engineers, technicians, machine operators and safety professionals.

Price

Please complete the in-company enquiry form with your requirements to enable us to put together a quote for you.

Please note that all courses must be paid for via credit card at the time of booking.

Some of our training courses can also be delivered in-company, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Email: HSEtraining@hse.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)203 028 3704

Back to HSE Health and Safety Training Grouped Courses