Product Overview

This comprehensive Machine Guarding Procedure is a ready-to-use work health and safety document designed specifically for Australian workplaces that use plant and machinery. It provides clear, practical guidance for controlling risks from moving parts and hazardous machine components across manufacturing and production, metal fabrication and welding, farming and agriculture, and mining and resources operations.

Developed by WHS specialists, this procedure sets out a structured approach to risk management, guarding design, installation, inspection, maintenance and training. It helps businesses implement robust engineering controls and safe systems of work, supporting strong WHS compliance and reducing the likelihood of serious injuries such as amputations, crush injuries and entanglement.

Key Features

• Detailed roles and responsibilities for officers, managers, supervisors, workers and contractors.
• Step-by-step guidance on hazard identification, risk assessment and control for plant and machinery.
• Clear requirements for fixed, interlocked and adjustable guards, presence-sensing devices and emergency stops.
• Industry-specific guidance for factories, workshops, agricultural operations and mining sites.
• Procedures for safe operation, pre-start checks, clearing blockages and responding to defects.
• Comprehensive isolation, lockout and tagout requirements linked to guarding activities.
• Templates and tables to support inspections, risk assessments and training records.

Benefits

• Strengthens WHS compliance by aligning with Australian work health and safety legislation, regulations and Codes of Practice.
• Reduces risk of serious machine-related injuries through consistent, engineered controls and safe work procedures.
• Saves time by providing a fully structured safety documentation framework that can be adapted to your operations.
• Supports safer commissioning, modification and maintenance of plant, reducing costly downtime and rework.
• Improves safety culture by clarifying expectations for operators, maintenance personnel and supervisors.
• Provides clear evidence of due diligence and systematic risk management for audits, regulators and insurers.

Who is this for?

This Machine Guarding Procedure is ideal for Australian businesses that operate machinery in:

• Manufacturing and production facilities, including automated lines and packaging equipment.
• Metal fabrication and welding workshops using lathes, presses, guillotines and grinders.
• Farming and agricultural operations with tractors, PTO-driven equipment and augers.
• Mining and resources sites with crushers, screens, conveyors and mobile plant.

It is especially useful for safety managers, WHS advisers, production managers, maintenance managers, HR and compliance staff who are responsible for implementing and maintaining effective machine guarding controls.

Legislation & References

This procedure is written to support compliance with key Australian work health and safety requirements, including WHS Acts and Regulations (jurisdiction-specific), the Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace, and relevant Australian Standards for machinery safety and guarding. It provides a strong foundation for your WHS compliance program and integrates smoothly with broader safety documentation such as risk registers, safe work procedures and training plans.