Guide Discusses Prevention Of Mechanical Hazards

Montreal, QC — A new guide on the prevention of mechanical hazards has been published by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauv en sant et en scurit du travail (IRSST). The machine safety guide describes methods for eliminating hazards at source and ways to protect against them by using fixed guards.

The risk reduction or distance protection principles presented in the guide are appropriate for the majority of machines. However, before applying the generic solutions proposed in this guide for conveyors, metal presses, drills and rubber machines in the province of Quebec, it is necessary to consult provincial regulations and standards relating to these machines.

The 70-page guide covers some of the currently known protection principles; however, it is not an exhaustive collection of solutions. To download the document, go to www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/RG-597.pdf.

Established in Qubec in 1980, the IRSST is a scientific research organization and a private, non-profit agency. Its board of directors is composed of an equal number of trade union and employers’ representatives, making it a joint body.