Until recently, machine guarding standards hadn’t seen much change since they were established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) almost 50 years ago. Machines themselves, however, evolved greatly during that time. Although new editions for the standards have been released, they were primarily minor adjustments to the previously written standards.
Introducing ANSI B11.19 Machine Guarding Standards
It’s an employer’s job to protect their employees from hazards created by machinery – regardless of the diversity or complexity of the machines.
The ANSI B11.19 edition released only a couple of years ago for machine guarding is a complete rewrite of previous standards. The new structure has made it more intuitive to understand how to protect people from the technology they use to do their jobs every day.
The History of Machine Guarding Standards
Throughout the time that machine guarding standards have been in place, there have been several changes made.
- After the first edition of the B11 was created through a ten-year process in the 60s and 70s, that document was reaffirmed – or accepted without change – in 1996.
- Then, in 2003, the second edition was released to include anthropometric data.
- In 2010, the third edition (the one that most businesses are familiar with) featured some rewrites from the original and a few additions, including American National Standard Institute (ANSI) requirements and risk assessment protocols.
- Finally, in 2019 the B11.19 was released – which completely changed the structure and content.
The New Structure of B11.19 Standards
In the 2019 edition, the creators took great care to provide much more detailed instruction to ensure your designs comply with safety standards. In doing so, they’ve organized the criteria into a more intuitive set of groupings, from most effective to least effectual, for quick reference:
- Inherently Safe By Design
- Engineering Controls
- Administrative Controls
Although the change took the standard from 122 pages to 255 pages, you’ll notice that finding the information you need is much quicker and more efficient than before.
If this edition is completely new to you, here’s a great video providing an in-depth look at ANSI B11.19. The video covers how this edition differs from past editions of the standard, how to apply it, and how to maximize its benefits.
WireCrafters and Engineering Controls
Within the Engineering Controls category, you’ll find that safety measures such as fixed, movable, interlocked, and other types of guards are essential to make sure that your employees do not come face-to-face with workplace hazards.
That’s where WireCrafters can become a powerful resource for your workplace. Our machine guarding systems are a simple, effective way to protect personnel from the dangers posed by automated equipment and ensure that you’re adhering to the standards outlined in the ANSI B11.19 edition. If you’re ready to learn more about OSHA standards and how WireCrafters play a role, you can also read more recent articles on our blog.
