Machine Guards

Critical Areas Requiring Machine Guards

There are three main parts of machines that contain dangerous moving parts requiring protection to prevent workplace injuries and ensure operator safety.

Operating Points

Injuries are most likely to occur where machine parts are involved in cutting, shaping, boring, and forming materials. These areas require clear visibility for precision work while providing complete protection from flying debris and contact with moving parts.

Power Transmission Components

Machine components that collect and transmit energy to working parts are hazardous if not properly guarded. This includes flywheels, belts, connecting rods, couplings, and gears that require durable protection while allowing for maintenance access and inspection.

Other Moving Parts

All moving parts pose danger to operators when machines are operating. Replacing, rotating, transverse, and feed mechanisms need guards that don't interfere with normal operation while preventing contact with dangerous components.

Essential Machine Guard Requirements

Safety Standards Compliance

Effective guards should prevent operators' hands, arms, and other body parts from coming into contact with moving parts. They must be constructed from sturdy materials that can withstand normal industrial use while being securely attached to machines so they cannot be easily removed or altered by operators.

Operational Efficiency

Guards should not create additional hazards such as jagged edges, sharp points, or unfinished surfaces that could cause lacerations. They must minimize interference with operators' ability to perform jobs quickly and comfortably, preventing override or neglect of safety measures.

Superior Plastic Materials for Machine Guards

Polycarbonate - Maximum Protection

Manufacturers predominantly use polycarbonate material for machine guards due to its exceptional properties. It offers transparency for visibility, superior toughness and durability, plus excellent machinability characteristics. When food contact is a concern, FDA-grade polycarbonate options are available.

PETG - Chemical Resistance

Our PETG sheets can withstand harsher chemicals, making them ideal for industries requiring resistance to petrol, kerosene, diesel fuels, and hydraulic fluids. These robustly designed plastics are perfect for oil industry applications and chemical processing environments.

Plexiglass/Acrylic - Cost-Effective Clarity

Plexiglass guards provide excellent optical clarity at economical pricing for applications requiring clear visibility of operations. They offer good impact resistance and are easily machined for custom configurations.

Advantages of Plastic Machine Guards

Installation and Shipping Benefits

Plastic safety guards are lighter and cheaper to ship than cast-iron or steel designs, use less energy during production, and are easily installed. Our plastic materials excel at absorbing impact in industrial environments, whether involving drilling, grinding metals, or other high-noise operations.

Visibility Options

Machine guards typically come in three main styles - clear, opaque, or tinted. Clear guards provide maximum visibility for precision operations, while opaque guards offer complete protection where visibility isn't critical. Tinted options reduce glare in high-light environments.

Contamination Prevention

Guards prevent workers from exposure to ejected materials or debris while also preventing product contamination during production by completely enclosing operations. This protects against dust, metal chips, and particles from other processes.

Our quick quote calculator provides instant pricing for your specific requirements. With specialists available for production planning, material cutting, and custom orders, contact us today to discuss your machine guard manufacturing needs and safety requirements.