The manufacturing and industrial field continues to not only thrive but boom in Australia, which also increases the need to enhance safety. Speaking of safety, safety light curtains have become an integral part of keeping the workplace safe and secure for everybody. Thanks to these innovations, accidents caused by automated machinery are reduced, propagating an environment where workers don’t have to worry about their safety. In line with this, choosing the right safety curtain light is crucial to maximize its features depending on your industry and application. This article lets you in on the key factors you should consider when selecting the right type for an effective safety solution.
Assess your needs and hazards in the workplace.
Machine type and use. Choosing your safety light curtains in Australia is highly dependent on the type of machinery and equipment you have on site. This is because factors like the machine’s operating speed and the material being processed influence the type of curtain lights needed.
Hazard identification. Before everything else, it’s crucial to assess the hazards in your workplace and determine all the potential risks associated with your machinery and work process involved. It’s crucial to highlight the potential injury zones as well as pinch and shear points so you can map out where to put your safety light curtains.
Protection level. Once you’ve determined the gravity of your risk hazard, you can now determine the kind of safety light curtain appropriate for the job, whether it’s for the finger, hand, body, or all three.
Safety standards and regulations. Every workplace needs to comply with the relevant safety standards and regulations depending on the industry and application. Hence, your workplace needs to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Association’s (OSHA) guidelines.
Environmental considerations. It’s also important to be mindful of the environmental conditions where the light curtains will be installed. External factors like temperature, humidity, dust, and natural light can affect the safety light curtain’s performance.
Key factors to be mindful of when choosing a light curtain.
Once you’ve assessed your workplace needs, along with the external factors that can affect your safety light curtains, you can start assessing certain light curtain features and specifications.
Type of protection. Safety should always be prioritized, so it’s paramount to choose a safety light curtain that’s appropriate for the level of protection you need for your project. For small objects like fingers, finger protection light curtains offer the highest level of protection. Consequently, larger objects like hands or bodies require a bigger protection light, so choose accordingly.
Response time. The time it takes for the system to detect the intrusion is crucial since it signals the machinery to stop. This response time is a critical factor in ensuring worker safety, especially when high-speed machinery is involved.
Range and resolution. Tied to the response time is the sensing range of the light curtain; it should be enough to cover the hazardous areas.
Integration capabilities. Choose a safety light curtain that can be integrated seamlessly into the system. Choose one that requires minimal maintenance to reduce handling time, as well as costs and downtime.
Choosing the right safety light curtains requires careful consideration since it impacts the worker’s safety. By assessing your project’s needs and requirements, as well as understanding the different features of light curtains, you can choose one that meets all the specific requirements of your project.