Incentive to bypass protective devices

Approximately 37% of all protective devices on metalworking machines are bypassed by defeating.

This substantially increases the potential hazard and the likelihood and severity of accidents, and has already resulted in fatal accidents. Reliable statistics, data and facts on the subject of "bypassing of protective devices on machinery" appeared for the first time in 2006 in the HVBG Report of the same name.

The bypassing of protective devices can be avoided completely only if machines are designed such that tampering presents no advantages, i.e. no incentive exists. Whether this (ideal) situation has been reached on a machine or not is an issue of crucial importance to the designers, purchasers and operators of machines.

The IFA presents an assessment matrix by means of which the incentive to bypass protective devices on machines can be evaluated.

For practical use, an Excel table is available by means of which the benefits gained from the bypassing of a protective device can be identified. The section of the assessment matrix entitled "Corrective measures" contains recommendations for measures which can be identified, from the results obtained, for the phases of a machine's design, purchase and operation.

Use

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It is made available to the user free of charge. Users may use it at their own risk.

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The IFA endeavours to keep its Internet service free of viruses. No guarantee can however be given that the software and information provided are virus-free.

Users are therefore advised to take appropriate precautions of their own and to use a virus scanner before downloading software, documentation or information.


IFA
Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung
Division 5
Ralf Apfeld
Alte Heerstr. 111
53757 Sankt Augustin
Germany