Machine safety

Against the background of global markets, the problem of defeated protective equipment is not limited to individual countries. An international exchange of information on this topic is therefore useful and necessary.

With the information on this website, the ISSA Section Machine and System Safety contributes to an open discussion on the subject of defeating protective devices in companies. These discussions can be the basis for further solutions to avoid incentives for defeating in the future and thus to prevent defeating of protective devices.

In the world of machines, safeguards are of crucial importance. But what happens when these safety devices themselves become a problem? The new explanatory film is aimed at manufacturers of machines and systems and highlights the challenges associated with defeated safeguards.

The Lübzer Brewery has been dealing with an occupational safety problem well known in the food industry: When working with jointed hook wrenches, such a wrench can slip off or tilt under the application of force and cause serious injuries.

In Austria, the employee protection law provides the occupational health and safety care for all employees regardless of the size of the company. For workplaces with up to 50 employees, the Austrian Workers´ Compensation Board (AUVA) offers the preventive service called "AUVAsicher" free of charge. In 2017, more than 280 preventative specialists (occupational physicians and safety specialists) travelled throughout Austria to work with companies to develop measures to improve safety and health.

This informative brochure addresses to workers employed in sawmills (early woodworking facilities). It describes how to perform the activity in a safe way.

Working at machines may be dangerous for safety and health. Therefore, at least some basic information about dangerous points are required. This short safety instruction can be used to highlight specific aspects of handling machines at the workplace, in particular for small and medium sized enterprises.