Automation Canada Machine Safety Issue May 2021 - 20

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Design & Verification
Safety system design includes all aspects of the safety system, including guarding (fixed, perimeter, interlocked, etc.) and safety controls (emergency
stops, light curtains, etc.) as defined in the SFRS. Documentation should include safety controls bill of materials, drawings for safety control panel
layout, wiring diagrams, hardware interface diagrams, and any safety or HMI soſtware (application code) development. Once the initial design is
complete, the safety system should be verified and documented to demonstrate compliance with the safety circuit architecture and circuit
performance requirements specified in the risk assessment.
Installation and Validation
Aſter the safety system is designed and verified, you can install the approved safety control hardware and guarding. But you're not done yet.
Validation will demonstrate the designed system is correctly installed and functioning in accordance with the SFRS. The validation plan is a
step-by-step documented process testing normal and abnormal operation of the safety system.
Maintenance and Improvement
Using the machine safety lifecycle's iterative approach, changes to the equipment, process, and interaction with the machine are identified and any
new risk to the employee can be mitigated appropriately.
Alternative De-energization Procedures (ADP)
Once the guarding is complete and the documentation proving its effectiveness is in place to protect employees performing the minor servicing
tasks, what's next? Be sure to document what tasks can be done safely using ADPs and instruct the machine users on what steps to take. These tasks
and instructions are documented in an alternative de-energization procedure. These ADPs are vitally important to communicate acceptable use of the
APMs put in place.
Complimentary Paths to Safety
Effective safety programs can reduce risk to employees performing various tasks and maximize efficiency through reduced downtime. For tasks
requiring complete de-energization of a machine, companies will benefit by having a robust lockout/tagout program. Risk reduction to an
acceptable level can be achieved for routine, repetitive, and integral tasks when the machine remains energized by following a set of good
engineering principles as outlined in the machine safety lifecycle.
To learn more about modernizing your industrial safety to maximize both safety and efficiency, contact RACSMSAFETY@ra.rockwell.com and our TÜV
Rheinland-certified safety experts will be ready to assist.
CANADIAN AUTOMATION
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
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Automation Canada Machine Safety Issue May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automation Canada Machine Safety Issue May 2021