Machine Guarding

Guide to Machine Safety – SafeWork NSW

Key AS 4024 Standards Related to Machine Guarding

AS 4024.1xx – Basic Concepts, General Principles

  • AS 4024.1201: General principles for design – Risk assessment and risk reduction.
    • Sets the foundation for applying risk assessments before designing guards.

AS 4024.1501 & AS 4024.1502 – Design of Safety-Related Parts of Control Systems

  • Ensures that the safety systems involved in guarding (like interlocks) are reliable and meet required performance levels (PLr).

AS 4024.1601 – Design of Guards

  • Primary standard for machine guarding.
  • Covers:
    • Types of guards: fixed, interlocked, movable.
    • Design requirements.
    • Materials, visibility, accessibility.
    • Guard strength and durability.
    • Minimizing defeat possibilities.

AS 4024.1801 – Safety Distances and Access Prevention

  • Provides safe distance requirements to prevent access to hazardous zones.
  • Includes minimum gaps to avoid crushing and entanglement hazards.

AS 4024.1701 – Anthropometric Requirements

  • Ensures that guards are designed to fit the size and reach of the intended users (i.e., human body dimensions).

AS 4024.1901 – Stop Functions

  • Relevant to guards with interlock functions. Ensures that stop functions are appropriately implemented.

Other Relevant Parts (Depending on the Machine Type)

  • AS 4024.2xxx Series: Specific standards for particular machine types (e.g., presses, conveyors, etc.).
  • They often include machine-specific guarding and safety measures.