- Our knowledge about
machine safety
Experts in safeguarding machinery
We are happy to inform our customers about the correct use and implementation of our machine safety components.
We share our knowledge of machine safety. Our articles provide you with the requirements to implement safety components in accordance with the machinery directive and safety standards.
Machine Safety Articles
Read our articles about machine safety requirements, legislation, norms and standards.
Why light curtains alone do not always provide sufficient protection
Why light curtains alone do not always provide sufficient protection Light curtains provide an effective method of protecting operators from moving or hazardous machine parts
Hygienic Design in Machine Guarding
In food, beverage, and pharmaceutical production, machine safety barriers are no longer evaluated solely on their ability to prevent access to hazardous zones. In hygiene-critical environments, physical barriers must also comply with strict hygienic design principles to ensure they do not become contamination risks themselves.
Compact radar sensors for access protection and presence sensing
Discover the Plug and Safe line by Inxpect. Safety radar sensors manufactured for presence sensing and access detection in industrial environments.
How to select the right signal tower for your machine or production line
Learn how to select the right signal tower based on environment, visibility, sound, technology and industrial standards for safe and reliable machine operation.
Managing Access Control Permissions with FRANK and amGardpro
Fortress Safety’s amGardpro and FRANK combine robust industrial safety with intelligent access control by linking employee RFID cards directly to…
The Versatility of tGard: Configurable Access and Control in Industrial Safety
The tGard range from Fortress Safety is designed to offer configurable interlocks and operator controls within a single, compact platform…
Hardwired vs network safety switches
The advantages of Networked Safety Switches Compared to Traditional Hardwired Safety Switches
From Safety Interlock to Multifunctional Gate Box
From Safety Interlock to Multifunctional Gate Box A multifunctional gate box or MGB for machine safety is a crucial safety device used in industrial settings
Revised standard ISO 14119
Revised standard ISO 14119 reduces risk of tampering with safety switches
Why regular padlocks are not suitable for lockout tagout applications
Here’s why standard padlocks should never be used in place of LOTO safety padlocks and what makes specific LOTO safety padlocks the only acceptable choice for energy isolation…
Uniquely coded safety switches
Uniquely coded safety switches When should u use Uniquely Coded Safety Switches according to the Machinery Directive? Safety switches are essential in protecting workers from
Prevent accidents with Emergency release
Prevent Accidents with Emergency Escape release Maximize Safety in Hazardous Industrial Zones In industrial environments where personnel can enter fully enclosed, safeguarded spaces, preventing unexpected
Power over Ethernet
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology that delivers both data and power through a single Ethernet cable.
Implementing Alfred explosion-proof safety switches
At Unique Safety Products, we have a wide range of Fortress safety interlocks. You will find a range of robust interlocking devices designed and certified for use in hazardous locations and explosive atmospheres.
The function of Access keys vs Safety keys
This article explores how the use of access and personal safety keys can effectively prevent entrapment hazards, ensuring a safer working environment.
Alpha and Bravo interlock blocking devices, how do they work?
ALPHA and BRAVO are fully mechanical safety systems that regulate access to safeguarded areas. Both systems are designed to increase safety by preventing unintentional restarts of machines during operations.
Fortress Key Engravings
Trapped Key Systems are advanced safety devices commonly used in manufacturing plants…
Ensuring safety with SIL and PL
Safety standards ISO 13849-1 and IEC 62061 are important when it comes to the safety of machinery or installations…
RFID Safety Keys
RFID technology has transformed industries with its wireless data transfer capabilities. In safety applications…
Safe access to ASRS sytems
Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) have made significant advances in various industries. During all these developments, employee safety remains as important as ever. But how do I securely access…
A new page on our website!
Looking for more information on machine safety? You are at the right address…
Understanding the Importance of Safety Switches in Industrial Safety
Industrial safety is a paramount concern in environments where machinery, processes, and personnel coexist. In this intricate dance of productivity…
Safety symbols in the work environment
Safety symbols need to be used to warn employees about residual risks. According…
PL & SIL: Information about machine standards
Safety products often have to meet certain requirements. To test the safety level of…
Optimize safety with CIP Safety or PROFIsafe.
The amGard Pro Network Safety Switches with Ethernet/IP & CIP Safety or PROFINET…
ATEX 114 & ATEX 153
ATEX standards 114 and 153 are the most important parts of the broader…
ISO standards covering Machine Safety
ISO standards can play an important role in ensuring machine safety in various…
Standard PLC or Safety control system?
Selecting the right safety switch and interlock for machinery and equipment is essential to…
Lockout-Tagout standards
ISO 14118 “Safety of machinery” and the US standard ANSI/ASSE Z244. These two…
The difference between proactive and reactive inhibit functions
Inhibit functions should be implemented anytime someone could be unnoticed or…
Choose the right parts for machineguarding
To safeguard or not to safeguard? Or more precisely: use a physical or…
Entrapment: better to prevent than to cure
Every year in the Netherlands there are approximately 280 accidents involving machines, 73% of…
The right Safety Padlock for your Lockout Tagout application
Due to the wide range of available padlocks, choosing the right type of safety padlock is not always easy. Padlocks can be found in all kinds of materials with an endless amount…
Are two safety switches required for PLe / SIL3?
There is a lot of interest in the question whether it is mandatory to use 2 safety switches for PLe applications…
ISO-document for Trapped Key Interlocking
ISO / TS 19837:2018 is the first international ISO document specifically dedicated to Trapped Key Interlocking …
Safety Key to prevent entrapment hazards
What is an emergency release? EN ISO 14119 defines an emergency release as “the possibility …
How to prevent unexpected machine starts with “full body access” in robot streets
The ISO standard for safety requirements for industrial robots (ISO 10218: 2011) has been adopted in many regions, including the…
How to deal with escape routes and entrapment in safeguarded areas
Emergency release and Escape releas are functions that are provided in many …
How to work safely during maintenance
Emergency stops are placed around machines and equipment, but the use of an emergency stop …
Lockout-Tagout Procedures: keep it simple and safe
Gravity is often overlooked as a potentially dangerous form of energy …
Trapped Key Interlocks for isolating multiple energy sources
Isolating dangerous energy to safely operate a machine during maintenance or production operations can be complex and difficult to enforce, especially when different energy …
How mechanical interlocks can comply with PLe
There are several advantages to using mechanical interlock systems over electromechanical safety switches. Benefits that are often mentioned are; the reduction of installation time, the additional costs for elements…
Light curtains: optical protection against dangerous situations
Safety light curtains, also known as light curtains or optical protection, are the ideal solution for protecting operators from dangerous machines and…
ISO/TR 22053 (2021) Safety of machinery
ISO/TR 22053 (2021) Safety of machinery – Safeguarding supportive systems ISO/TR 22053 Safety of machinery – Safeguarding supportive systems (SSS) was published in February 2021.
LOTOTO is an important part of your machine safety
Despite the fact that maintenance, cleaning and replacement work accounts for only a few percent of a machine’s total operating time, a large proportion of…
Alternative risk reductions for LOTO
Even though Lockout Tagout Tryout (LOTOTO) has no legal basis in Europe, it is the most widely used way to safely service machines to make them comply with European…
Safe presence detection or machine guarding?
With the arrival of the Collaborative Robot (CoBots) and the introduction of safety devices with presence detection, the question is whether…
How do you control hazardous energy?
Lockout-Tagout-Tryout (LOTOTO) is a method of controlling and monitoring hazardous energy for machine safety applications, which is used in intervention…
