Interlocking Guards

Interlocking guards require that the machine is off before the guards can be removed. Other types of interlocking guards are set to automatically shut down the machine if the guards are opened or removed.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Interlocking Guards

Interlocking guards are a good choice if workers must routinely bypass a guard. It is important to ensure that the machine is completely off before opening or removing a guard, and interlocking guards will do just that. The act of opening the guard will immediately kill power to the machine. Alternately, some guards stay locked until power has been shut off. Workers can then remove the guard and continue with maintenance. Unfortunately, these types of guards require regular maintenance to continue operating properly, so they are often more costly and time-consuming to maintain than fixed guards.

To learn more about Machine Guarding visit our Machine Guarding Safety Online Training web page.