Trapped Key Interlocking

Mechanical locking portion of a trapped key interlock secured to the door of an electrical switchgear cabinet with one-way tamper-resistant screws.

Many machine designers think interlocks are exclusively electrical devices; a movable mechanical guard is fitted with an electrical interlocking device, and the interlocking device is connected to the control system. Trapped Key Interlocking is an equally effective way to interlock guards that is often more appropriate in severe environmental conditions or where the guard is…

Read More

Five reasons you should attend our Free Safety Talks

Banner for the Free Safety Talks

Reason #1 – Free Safety Talks You can’t argue with Free Stuff! Last week we partnered with Schmersal Canada and Franklin Empire to put on three days of Free Safety Talks. We had full houses in all three locations, Windsor, London and Cambridge, with nearly 60 people participating. We had two great presenters who helped…

Read More

Presence Sensing Devices – Reaching over sensing fields

I recently heard about an application question about a light curtain with a small gap at the top of the sensing field, between the last beam in the field and the surrounding structure of the machine. Some concern was raised about the gap and whether or not additional guarding might be needed to close the…

Read More

CSA Z432 Safeguarding of Machinery – 3rd Edition

If you build machinery for the Canadian market or modify equipment in Canadian workplaces, you will be familiar with CSA Z432, Safeguarding of Machinery. This standard has been around since 1992, with the last major revision published in 2004. CSA has reconvened the Technical Committee responsible for this important standard to revise the document to…

Read More

Get the Basics Right! New training courses

People in a training class, listening to an instructor

For over 15 years, I’ve taught people about risk assessment, machinery safety and CE Marking of machinery in private, onsite classes and through presentations at safety conferences. Things are about to change! We are introducing new training courses! This fall, Compliance InSight Consulting will begin offering open-enrolment workshops in CE Marking, Risk Assessment Functional Safety,…

Read More