Glossary: Guards and protective devices

01.08.2025

What is the difference between guards and protective devices? And what is their importance for occupational workplace safety?

What are guards?

Guards are physical barriers that prevent access to hazardous areas of machinery. Examples of such devices are safety fences and doors. These devices stop the operation of the machine as soon as they are opened or removed, thus providing protection against potential hazards.

What are non-separating protective devices?

Non-separating protective devices, on the other hand, monitor certain areas of a machine or system without restricting physical access. These include, for example, light barriers and emergency stop switches. In contrast to guards, non-isolating protective devices protect against sources of danger, but not directly against hazardous points.

Importance for occupational safety

Protective devices play a decisive role in occupational safety. They prevent accidents, reduce operating errors and ensure the safe operation of machines and systems. They also increase employees‘ confidence in workplace safety. Tamper protection is also an important aspect to ensure that safety guards cannot be easily bypassed..

Importance for Workplace Safety

Guarding devices are essential for preventing accidents, reducing operational errors, and ensuring the safe operation of machinery and equipment. They enhance worker confidence in safety measures. An important factor is tamper resistance, ensuring that safety devices cannot be easily bypassed or disabled.

Legal requirements for protective devices

The EU Machinery Directive, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Product Safety Act require the implementation and maintenance of protective devices in accordance with certain standards. Important standards include DIN EN ISO 12100 and 13849-1. Compliance with these regulations is essential in order to create safe workplaces and fulfil the legal requirements.

Protective equipment in practice

In practice, it is important that companies regularly check the functionality and integrity of their protective equipment. Training for employees is necessary to convey the importance of these devices and how to use them correctly. In addition, regular maintenance and inspections should be carried out to ensure that the protective devices are always operational.