ISO 13857, the new standard for machinery safety distances

Fortunately the new standard is, in essence, an amalgamation of the two previous standards, with all of the principles, tabulated data and safety distance unchanged. There has been some minor redrafting and renumbering of clauses, but this is little more than a tidying-up exercise.

There is no doubting that the new standard is essential when designing machine guards, but the standard's limitations must be borne in mind. For example, sub-clause 4.1.1 lists a number of assumptions, including:
- there is some contact with the reference plane while wearing shoes (use of high-soled shoes, climbing and jumping are not included);
- no aids such as chairs or ladders are used to change the reference plane;
- no aids such as rods or tools are used to extend the natural reach of the upper limbs.

In reality, a worker who makes the unwise decision to try clearing a jam without stopping a machine could well also decide to stand on something or use an improvised tool to do so. The standard is also based on anthropometric data and therefore it states: 'Because safety distances depend on size, there will be some people of extreme dimensions who will be able to reach hazard zones even when the requirements of this International Standard are complied with.' It is therefore crucial that guards are designed in the light of a formal risk assessment as well as the data contained in the standard.

Following the publication of BS EN ISO 13857 in April 2008, Procter Machine Guarding has revised its popular Safety Distance Calculator for establishing the required safety distances and heights of machine guards. As with the previous release, Version 2 is very intuitive, with drop-down menus from which users select the application risk level (high or low), the horizontal distance to the hazard and the height of the hazard. The calculator then automatically calculates and displays the required height for the protective structure. Additionally, the calculator gives the safety distances for slots, round, square and irregularly shaped apertures through which a person could reach.

The Safety Distance Calculator is based on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, though no knowledge of this software package is required. However, if users require further assistance with calculating safety distances, Procter Machine Guarding can either help directly or put users in touch with appropriate experts.