Forensic Engineers and Consultants

Blog Posts by: Chad Jones

Author Chad E. Jones

Expertise Includes:

  • Fires & Explosions
  • Machine Design
  • Machine Safeguarding
  • Products Liability
  • HVAC Systems
  • Risk Assessment
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Machine Guarding Resources

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So, you find yourself with a machine hazard that you need to guard.  Where do your turn for guidance regarding guards?  Several resources are available for the person who is tasked with providing machine guarding.

The United States government provides resources in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).  These can be found at www.ecfr.gov.  Title 29 of the CFR, section 1910 covers “General Industry” regulations.  1910 Subpart O, covers Machinery and Machine Guarding.  Definitions are covered in 1910.211 and it is wise to understand how terms are defined. For instance, in 1910.211(a)(1), Point of operations is defined by the regulation as “that point at which cutting, shaping, boring, or forming is accomplished on the stock.”

Example of a point of operation

29CFR 1910.212 is titled “General requirements for all machines” and 1910.212(a)(1) Types of guarding, states that “one or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are – barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.”

29 CFR 1910.212 “General requirements” is not the only federal regulation out there.  There are also regulations for specific equipment such as 1910.213, Woodworking machinery requirements, 1910.215 Abrasive wheel machinery, 1910.216 Mills and calendars in the rubber and plastics industries, 1910.217 Mechanical power presses, 1910.218 Forging machines, and 1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus.

CFR 1910 Subpart R – Special Industries includes, but are not limited to 1910.262 Textiles, 1910.263 Bakery equipment and 1910.268 Telecommunications.  Specific industries are also covered, including Maritime (29 CFR 1915, 1917, 1918), Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926) and Agriculture Industry (29 CFR 1928).

But what about the details of the design for a guard?  29 CFR 1910 (a)(2) General requirements for machine guards reads as follows, “Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible.  The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.”

Here we see that per OSHA the guard should protect the operator from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks.  Also the guard needs to be affixed to the machine where possible.  What other resources are available for the person tasked with designing a guard?

Fixed Guard on a Rotating Shaft

Here consensus standards are available to assist with the task.   The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publishes B11.0 – Safety of Machinery.  The standard states in 7.9 Safeguarding, 7.9.1 General, that the guards, safeguarding devices, awareness devices, and safeguarding methods on machinery shall conform to the applicable ANSI B11 machine-specific (Type-C) standard and/or ANSI B11.19.  ANSI provides standards for specific equipment including mechanical power presses as an example.  If there is no machine specific standard available, then ANSI B11.19, Performance Requirements for Risk Reduction Measures: Safeguarding and other Means of Reducing Risk is available.

ANSI B11.19-2019 (R2024) contains a specific section on guards, including fixed guards, movable guards, interlocked guards, adjustable guards, self-adjusting guards, partial guards, perimeter guards, nip guards, and shields. This standard can be used to assist the individual tasked with designing a guard.

Fixed Guard on Belts

International Standard ISO 14120 Safety of machinery – Guards – General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards is also available to assist in the design of guards for machinery.  Some sections included in this standard are “Principles for the design and construction of guards” and “Selection of types of guards.”

The individual tasked with designing a guard has several resources available to assist in the design.  Proper application can lead to a safer piece of equipment.

Chad Jones, PE, CFEI, CVFI, CMSE has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University. Chad has over 25 years of engineering experience including mechanical, process, and manufacturing engineering. This work has included equipment design, machine safeguarding, cost estimating and safety compliance. Chad also has over 15 years of commercial, industrial, and residential HVAC and plumbing design experience. A lifelong auto and motorcycle enthusiast, Chad is accomplished in the maintenance, repair, and modification of vehicles and engines. Chad is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, and IFSAC certified Firefighter II in Greenwood County, South Carolina.

Machinery Directive VS Machinery Regulation – A Notable Change

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In 2023, the new European Machinery Regulation was published which replaces the 2006 Machinery Directive.  The 2023 Machinery Regulation is slated to be entered into force and application on January 20, 2027.  A number of changes and/or clarifications are included in this new Machinery Regulation, not the least of which is the definition for “substantial modification.” Read More

The Potential Leak in Your Kitchen Cabinet – Flexible Supply Connectors

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One of the more innovative products to emerge on the plumbing scene in the past 20 years or so (in my opinion) is the flexible supply connector.  A lot of people have seen but probably not paid much attention to them under their sink or perhaps from the toilet supply valve to the toilet tank.  Most have Read More

More HVAC Equipment Changes on the Way

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The United States Department of Energy (DOE) finalized energy efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces in late 2023.  These new standards are slated for implementation in late 2028.  The last time the DOE raised the efficiency rating of gas furnaces was in 2007, when the minimum efficiency for gas fired furnaces was raised from 78% to 80% efficient.

Let’s look at what efficiency means in this context.  In simple terms, Read More

New Year, New HVAC Refrigerant

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As we ring in the new year 2025, a significant change is coming for several heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems that are currently used in both residential and commercial applications.  The 2020 American Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Act is bipartisan legislation that was signed into law.  The AIM legislation empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the production and consumption of hydroflourocarbons HFCs by 85 percent by the year 2035. Read More

Safety Distance in Machine Safeguarding

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Hazard can be defined as a potential source of harm.  Machine safeguarding seeks to protect people from these potential sources of harm.  Often distance from a hazard will play a key role in providing a means of protection.

One would often think of distance as it relates to the location of a barrier guard from a hazard.  ANSI B11.19, Performance Criteria for Safeguarding, defines safety distance as “the distance a safeguard is installed from a hazard such that individuals are not exposed to a hazard.”  An example from ANSI B11.19 of the recommended distance of a slotted opening in a barrier guard from a hazard is shown Read More

Materials in HVAC Plenums

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What materials are suitable for installation in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) plenums?  Let’s first define a plenum.  The 2021 edition of the International Mechanical Code (IMC), a subset of the International Building Code (IBC), defines a plenum as “an enclosed portion of a building structure, other than the occupied space being conditioned, that is designed to allow air movement, and thereby serve as a part of an air distribution system.” Read More

Hot ’til It’s Not Part II – Heating System Maintenance

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As cold weather sets in for those of us that actually get a winter in the Northern Hemisphere, a property owner needs to think about another expensive home system that is often taken for granted, your HVAC system.

Whether you have a heat pump with electric backup, a gas fired furnace, a fuel oil fired furnace, or even  electric strip heat, your heating system requires some routine attention to maximize efficiency and get the most life out of the unit.

As a homeowner, the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to maximize the efficiency of your heating system is Read More

Hot ’til It’s Not…Water Heater Maintenance

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An often overlooked item in your home’s infrastructure is the water heater.  Most people don’t think a lot about their water heater until they turn the tap and are surprised with water that is less than hot.  Water heaters are just like many other major home appliances, they need a little attention to get their maximum life and performance. Read More

Keeping the Home Fires Burning Without the Fires Burning Homes

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As the Holiday Season approaches in the United States, it is a good time to take a look at several ways that the festivities can go awry.

For people that have cool or cold weather during winter, the thought of a warm, cozy home can be very comforting.  However, many of the things that come to mind can turn the season on its head very quickly.  Candles are a great example of a decorating trend with potentially serious side effects.  The good folks at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) tell us that more than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles, with more than two of every five decoration fires occurring because decorations were placed too close to a heat source.  One fire I responded to as a firefighter occurred because Read More

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