Safeguarding Standards

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers the design, fabrication and installation of equipment and machinery

Safeguarding.
2. Regulations

2.1 Occupational Health & Safety Regulations

2.1.1 WorkSafe BC
2.1.1.1 Part 4 General Conditions
2.1.1.2 Part 12 Tools, Machinery and Equipment
2.1.1.3 Part 27 Wood Products Manufacturing
2.1.2 Alberta OH&S Code Part 22

2.1.3 OSHA 1910.211 to 1910.219

2.2 Power Transmission guard application, design, fabrication and use shall conform to the
requirements of CSA Z432-94 Safeguarding of Machinery (U.S. ANSI B15.1 Safety Standard for
Mechanical Power Apparatus)

2.3 It is the responsibility of the vendor or contractor supplying the guards to ensure
conformity with the referenced codes and standards.

3. Definitions

3.1 Safeguard: Universal term for protecting workers from contact with harmful conditions.

3.2 Fixed Guard (point of operation): a guard that is secured permanently or by fasteners and
encases the hazard.
3.3 Barrier Guard: a guard that does not enclose the hazard but removes access because of physical
dimension.
3.4 Guarding by location / distance: No permanent access to hazard, must use ladder or scaffold to
access. (8 feet (2.4 m) from floor, walkway, or work platform)
4. Guidelines
4.1 Guarding principles: guards must be constructed and installed
4.1.1 So that one cannot reach around, under, though, or over (AUTO) the guard to reach a moving
part or point of operation (360° Guarding)
4.1.2 To safely contain any material ejected by the work process which could be hazardous to
employees?
4.1.3 To create no new hazards.
4.1.4 To create no production interference.
4.1.5 To allow safe lubrication of equipment.
4.2 Each guard must be designed to suit the equipment as well as its layout. If applicable,
the guard supplier is to confirm the dimensions of the equipment to be guarded and an accurate
drawing or sketch of each guard shall be submitted prior to fabrication.
4.3 Guards shall be designed for quick, easy installation and removal.
4.3.1 Guard designs must include considerations to not exceed a maximum weight of 50 lbs. (able to
be lifted by one person).
4.3.2 Guards exceeding 50 lbs. must be designed and built in segment not to exceed 50 lbs. each if
possible.
4.3.3 Guards or removable sections of guards exceeding 100 lbs. in mass are to be provided with
lifting lugs.
4.3.4 Large guard designs are to consider front face mesh made detachable by means of fasteners
(required to be with a tool) and the guard designed with a six inch distance from internal equipment to
allow for efficient belt and chain replacement and maintenance.
4.4 Guards design must include considerations to accommodate:
4.4.1 Material clean-up/containment:
4.4.1.1 Fixed guards may not have any openings that are not in compliance with mesh size/proximity
standards and the 6 sides/360° requirement. Openings at the bottom of area or barrier guards to
allow for clean-up tool/s must comply with the table outlining the minimum distance requirements
from the hazard found in the CSA Z432-94 Standard.
4.4.1.2 Guarding containment design must prevent or minimize the buildup of debris/material
4.4.1.3 Considerations must be given that guarding containment design prevents hazardous dust
concentrations within the guard enclosure. The first consideration must be to prevent fugitive dust at
the source.
4.4.2 Preventative Maintenance activities:

4.4.2.1 Vibration Analysis

4.4.2.2 Run-time inspections

4.4.2.3 Lubrication

4.4.2.4 Heat analysis/over-heating concerns

4.4.2.5 Visual inspections mesh painted black for easy viewing of internal components)

4.5 Guarding Selection Hierarchy

4.5.1 Point of Operations fixed guarding should be the first consideration.

4.5.2 Barrier guarding, area/barrier guarding, fencing or guardrails should only be used when point of
operation guarding is not practical or additional safeguard is required due to the equipment operation.

5. Standards
5.1 All hazardous moving parts located within 2.5 meters /8 feet of grade, floor, walkway, work
platform must be guarded to prevent contact by workers.
5.2 Guards shall be designed so that a tool is required to remove the guard.
5.3 Mechanical guards must be able to withstand the weight of a 250 lb. person standing, leaning or
falling against it.
5.4 Guards must be free from burrs, sharp edges and corners.
5.5 Guarding must be designed and constructed to safely contain material ejected by the work.
5.6 Shaft ends must not project out more than one-half the diameter of the shaft, unless guarded. If
the projection of a shaft is less than half the shaft diameter and is free of snagging hazards (internal
threads, lock rings, set screws, bolts, keys/keyways, etc.), no guard is required. Projecting shaft end
regardless of the size of the shaft and exposure must be effectively guarded when in operating areas
frequented by workers and contact is likely due to the work activity.
5.7 Coupling guards must have a solid top and expanded metal on at least one side for viewing the
coupling.
5.8 Cleaning and painting of carbon steel shall be in accordance with the West Fraser Paint and
Coating Standard.
5.8.1 Guard frames/rails: High Visibility Yellow (General Paint #17242). (Structural components such
as motor bases must be painted West Fraser Green (General Paint 17054-05)
5.8.2 Guard mesh: Flat Black (allows easier visibility of inner components)
5.9 Fixed guards
5.9.1 Must be held securely in place either by welding or by a fastener (screws, nuts, tie-wraps, lock,
cotter pins etc.) making removal impossible without a tool (CSA Z432-94). Quick release devices
are not acceptable.
5.9.2 Where practical guards should be designed, constructed and installed with a single point of
securement (i.e. hinged at one end and a bolt/nut at the other).
5.9.3 Designed and constructed to have 360° coverage and 6 sided
5.9.3 Standard mesh size of openings is designed so that fingers cannot penetrate the mesh screen
and come in contact with hazardous point of operation (Appendix A-Mesh Dimension) (Appendix E -
Mesh Gauge)
5.9.4 2” minimum clearance between guard and any moving parts at maximum adjustment (must
include allowances for chain and belt sag).
5.9.5 Allow for maximum adjustment.
5.10 Area/barrier guards, fencing and guardrails must:
5.10.1 Be 112 cm/44 inches in height (to maximize the allowance for proximity to internal hazard
points [no less than 101 cm/40 inches away from any hazard]). (Appendix B)
5.10.2 Contain a midrail approximately halfway between the top of the railing and the floor.
5.10.3 Have a kickplate toeboards if hazards exist at foot level or if on an elevated walkway or
platform.
5.10.4 Be painted High Visibility Yellow.
5.10.5 Be secured to the floor, structure or equipment
5.10.6 Be able to withstand the weight of 250 lb. force in any direction
5.10.7 Barrier guards/fencing around high hazard areas such as canter heads and Bandmills shall be a
minimum of 183 cm/72 inches high with screening or mesh to contain ejected material, with a
maximum opening at the bottom of 12 inches (provided the hazard points of operation are more than
40 inches from the barrier.
5.10.8 Barrier rope may be used permanently in low hazard areas provided (Fixed barrier guards are
the preferred method-Barrier Chain must NOT be used):
5.10.8.1 Cable must be 3/8 or ½ inch, 7 x 19, PVC Yellow Cable or equivalent.
5.10.8.2 Cable barrier must be designed and installed to be an effective barrier from the hazard
location or area.
5.10.8.3 Cable must have a means to be tensioned correctly and supported at intervals to be effective
as a barrier.
5.10.8.4 Cable barriers may be used for temporary guarding in high hazard areas, should the
construction or repair of the missing or damaged guard require more than 8 hours or additional time
to compete.
5.10.9 Gates:
5.10.9.1 Must act as barrier and open away from the hazard area.
5.10.9.2 Must be self-closing, preferably a design that does not require springs or other means to
close.
5.10.9.3 Must have entry instructions signage to the West Fraser Standard. (See Appendix G)
5.10.9.3.1 Gates accessing Lockout areas must be equipped with a “Danger Lockout Before Entry”
sign. Signage must also indicate the presence of other hazards such as falls from elevation.
5.10.9.3.2 Gates access restricted access areas must be equipped with a “Danger Restricted Access -
Follow Safe Work Procedures “sign.
5.10.9.4 Lockout gates must be secured to prevent inadvertent entry. Must be held
securely in place by a fastener (screws, nuts, tie-wraps, lock, cotter pins
etc.) requiring removal/opening with the use of a tool (CSA Z432-94).
Quick release devices are not acceptable.
5.10.10 If the area within contains exposed mechanical hazards (pinch, crush, etc.), the following
additional standards must be in place:
5.10.10.1 Railing height/structure and proximity to hazard point.
5.10.10.1.1 The barrier must be placed away from the hazard point at a horizontal distance according
to CSA Z432-94 Table A1 (Appendix B).
5.10.10.1.2 West Fraser targets a guard railing height at 112 cm/44 inches high. This requires the
handrail being located at least 101 cm/40 inches away from the hazard point. Guard railing lower
than 107 cm/42 inches high or lower requires the railing to be placed at least 140 cm/55 inches
away from the hazard point.
5.10.10.1.3 The alternatives to any of the measurements not being compliant with the CSA Z432-94
table are to either fence/mesh the handrail barrier according to the CSA mesh
standards (Appendix B); and/or to encase all hazard points with fixed 360° guarding.
5.10.10.2 Area/barrier guards, fencing and guardrails must have instructional
signage at each point of entry point.
5.10.10.2.1 Area/barrier guards, fencing and guardrails must have
instructional signage posted at or on the gate access, at least
once if no access gate is provided and every 10 M (33 feet) if
the barrier areas are of sufficient size.(ie lumber sorters)
5.11 Guarding by location
5.11.1 Drives and other hazardous point of operation may be guarded by proximity or locations such
as elevated drives that are above 2.5 meters (8 feet) and accessible only by portable ladder. These
areas do not require fixed point of operation guards.
5.11.2 Elevated drives with fixed ladder access all power transmission components, v-belts, drive
chains and other pinch points or crush hazards must be guarded. Fixed ladder access must be fitted
with self-closing gates.
5.11.3 Elevated fitted with fixed ladder and power transmission components and other hazard can be
fitted with a ladder barricade and Lockout sign that is secured and prevents accessing or climbing the
ladder.
5.12 Other Safeguards (Appendix D Guarding Photos)
5.12.1 Conveyor guarding must be designed to prevent material or equipment from falling in to areas
used or accessed by workers during normal operation such as chain, belt conveyer returns and idler
rolls above 2.5 meters (8 feet) from grade.
5.12.2 Planer bedrolls create nip points with the bed plate and require guarding.
5.12.3 The infeed and outfeed of conveyors of ring debarkers require guarding of the hazardous
movement logs being processed.
5.12.4 Hog and Chipper chutes must be fitted with guarding or baffling to minimize ejected material.
5.12.5 Chipper anvil doors require mechanical protection or guarding to prevent anvil access panel
being ejected.
5.12.6 Lathe chucks require guarding when the lathe chuck dogs extend beyond the circumference of
the lathe chuck.
5.12.7 Emergency stopping systems that use pull wires must be activated by a pull of the wire in any
direction and by a slack line condition.
5.12.8 Work platforms four feet or more above grade must be fitted with handrails 107 cm + 5 cm/
42”+ 2” with a midrail approximately halfway between the top of the railing and the work platform.
Ladder opening on work platforms must be fitted with self-closing double bar gates or equally effective
means.
5.12.9 Pump gland packing requires effective guarding to prevent inadvertent contact.
5.12.10 Floor openings must be protected by guardrails 107 cm + 5 cm/ 42”+ 2” with a midrail
approximately halfway between the top of the railing and the floor, or a means of fall protection, or a
means to minimize the floor opening to maximum 10 inches. (I.e. 2” diameter Schedule 40/80 pipe on
30 cm/12” centers. Orientation of the pipe should be such to allow waste material/debris to enter the
waste system if applicable).
5.12.11 Planer feed rolls (pineapples) require point of operation guarding, that could be integrated
into the dust extraction systems, along with a barrier guard to prevent access wile in operation.
Barrier may be gated (secured) with signage requiring lockout before entry.
5.12.12 Scissor lifts for lumber, panel or veneer must be equipped with effective barrier guarding or
point of operation guarding to prevent access to the potential shear hazard of the scissor mechanism.
6. Temporary options to address hazards
6.1 Exposed mechanized (pinch, crush, etc.) hazards may be temporarily addressed by one or more of
the following options:

6.1.1 Pulpable “Red Danger” hazard tape with an info tag/sign placed securely as an enclosed
barrier at least 4 feet back from all hazard points. Red Danger tape should only be used as a short
term fix; no more than 8 hours or 1 shift.

6.1.2 Fixed barriers such as wood barriers or plywood barriers, or yellow barrier cable may be used as
a short term fix for temporary guarding in high hazard areas, should the construction or repair of the
missing or damaged guard require more than 8 hours or additional time to compete, provided the
temporary barrier is positioned more than 4 feet from the hazard.

6.1.3 Shut down and lock out of all equipment that has the exposed hazard points until repaired.

6.1.4 On-location monitor(s) preventing inadvertent access to 6 feet from the hazard points for short
period of time until safeguards identified in 6.1.1 can be implemented.

6.2 Areas that contain minor hazards and no exposed mechanized (pinch, crush, etc.) hazards may be
temporarily addressed by one or more of the following options:

6.2.1 Pulpable “Yellow Caution” hazard tape

6.2.2 Fixed barriers such as wood barriers or plywood barriers placed securely as barrier. Yellow
barrier cable may be used.

6.2.2 On-location monitor(s) preventing inadvertent access to 4 feet from the hazard zone until
safeguards are provided.
Appendix A: Mesh dimensions and reach distances
Location of guard vs. allowable openings in the guarding must conform to the following table
(Ref: CSA Z432- 94 10.12 Minimum distance Minimum distance from hazard
from hazard) Barrier opening size (smallest
dimension)
mm inches Slotted Opening Square Opening
0.0 – 6.0 0.000 – 0.250 ≥13.0 mm* (0.5 in) ≥13.0 mm* (0.5 in)
6.1 – 11.0 0.251 – 0.375 ≥64.0 mm* (2.5 in) ≥48.0 mm* (1.9 in)
11.1 – 16.0 0.376 – 0.625 ≥89.0 mm* (3.5 in) ≥66.0 mm* (2.6 in)
16.1 – 32.0 0.626 – 1.250 ≥166.0 mm* (6.5 in) ≥166.0 mm* (6.5 in)
32.1 – 49.0 1.251 – 1.875 ≥445.0 mm* (17.5 in) ≥445.0 mm* (17.5 in)
49.1 – 132.0** 1.876 – 5.000** ≥915.0 mm* (36.0 in) ≥915.0 mm* (36.0 in)

* Barriers shall not be located less than 13.0 mm (5.0 in) from the hazard
** Barrier openings shall not be greater than 132 mm (5.0 in) unless a risk
assessment is performed