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Barriers – Protect people and equipment

Moving machine parts can potentially cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. In addition, amputations, lacerations, and abrasions are costly and potentially increase workers' compensation premiums.  (Amputation is one of the most severe and crippling types of injuries in the occupational workplace, often resulting in permanent disability.) Due to this fact, OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) has established a set of standards around machine guarding. The purpose of machine guarding is to protect the machine operator and other employees in the work area from hazards created during the machine's regular operation.  That would include risks of concern such as ingoing nip points, rotating parts, reciprocating, transversing, and flying chips & sparks.  Any machine part, function, or process that might cause injury must be safeguarded. When the operation of a machine or accidental contact with it could injure the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be controlled or eliminated.

Barriers – Protect people and equipment

Machine Guarding Systems

Machine Guarding Systems for Safer Production Floors

Machine guarding systems are protective barriers designed to shield employees from hazardous machine motion and points of operation. Common applications include rotating parts, ingoing nip points, reciprocating or traversing motion, and areas where chips or sparks are generated. Proper guarding prevents accidental contact while maintaining visibility and access for normal operation and maintenance.

Unprotected machinery can cause severe injuries, including crushed hands, amputations, burns, and eye damage, resulting in downtime and increased workers' compensation costs. OSHA machine guarding standards require safeguarding any machine part or process that could cause injury to protect operators and nearby personnel.

Each machine has its own unique mechanical and non-mechanical hazards, ranging from minor abrasions, burns, and cuts to severe fractures, lacerations, crushing injuries, or amputation. By controlling mechanical hazards and debris, machine guarding reduces preventable injuries and production disruptions while supporting OSHA compliance and long-term operational reliability.

Selecting the Right Type:

♦ Hazard type: choose machine guards and guard rails for point-of-operation and equipment protection, or bollards and corner guards for personnel and structural protection.
♦ Application, dock and warehouse areas suit safety gates and barricades, while production floors suit modular guardrail and rack protection systems.
♦ Visibility and awareness: add safety floor tape or a collision awareness sensor system to reinforce physical barriers with visual and audible warnings.

Where Commonly Used:

♦ Manufacturing Floors, machine guards, and guard rails protect operators from point-of-operation hazards.
♦ Warehouses and Distribution Centers, dock safety gates and floor-mounted barriers control access and protect racking.
♦ Loading Docks, swivel and barricade gates manage safe access during loading and unloading.
♦ High-Traffic Forklift Areas, bollards, corner guards, and collision awareness systems reduce impact risk between equipment and structures.

CustomMHS carries the full line of machine guarding products from Handle-It, MECO, Jesco, Vestil, Mighty Line, and Save-Ty, backed by each manufacturer's warranty.

 

handle it guard rail system
Handle-It
Guard Rail System
guard railing		 Imagem
MECO Single, Double & Triple
All Weld Guard Rail System
guard railing		 Imagem
Handle-it Build-A-Rail
Guard Rails
4' to 10' long
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Jesco Machine Guard
36" to 48" long
10" to 42" high
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Meco Double Square
Rail Corner Guard
guard railing

Imagem

MECO MRG Series
Machine and Rack Guards
wirecrafters  

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MECO Safety Modular
Guardrail System
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MECO Perimeter Guards
1-1/2-Inch expanded metal panel
Imagem		 Imagem
Mighty Line 
Safety Floor Tape
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Heavy Duty Machine Protection
Heavy Duty Personal &
Machine Protection
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  Heavy Duty Steel Safety Bollard
Heavy Duty Square and Round
Steel Bollards
wirecrafters		  Imagem
Heavy Duty Corner
Pipe Guard
wirecrafters

Rack Protection
Rack Protection
Many Styles
Rack Protection 

 handle it floor barrier
Handle It Floor Mounted
Steel Safety Barriers
floor mounted barrier 		  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I choose the right machine guarding solution for my application?
Choose based on hazard + access needs. Fixed guards are best for low access areas, fencing and security cages for larger zones, rails for traffic separation, gates for controlled entry, and rack backing to prevent pallet push-through. If you share your layout and workflow, we’ll recommend the simplest setup that fits.
What information do you need to quote a machine guard system?
A quick quote needs dimensions (L/W/H), a rough layout or sketch, access points/gates, what you’re guarding, floor type, and ideally a couple of photos. If you don’t have everything, send what you have. We’ll fill in the gaps.
Are your machine guarding systems designed to help meet OSHA requirements?
Yes, these systems are commonly used to support OSHA machine guarding goals. Final compliance depends on your specific application and installation, so we’ll help you choose the right solution and you can confirm requirements with your safety team.
What are typical lead times and freight/shipping considerations?
Lead time depends on whether items are stocked or configured. Many guarding systems ship via freight, and larger orders may require a dock, forklift, or lift gate delivery. We’ll confirm ship dates and delivery requirements during quoting.
Is the manufacturer’s warranty included with my purchase?
Yes. All products sold on CustomMHS.com include the original manufacturer’s warranty unless otherwise noted. Custom MHS is an authorized dealer for the brands we carry, which means your purchase is covered by the manufacturer's full factory warranty.
Why purchase from CustomMHS.com?
CustomMHS.com supports manufacturing and distribution operations that need equipment that fits right the first time. We specialize in storage and material handling and help you select the correct configuration upfront to avoid errors that cause delays, reorders, and costly downtime. To make price comparisons simple and fair, we reference the manufacturer’s model number on our listings and quotes whenever available. That way, you can compare the exact same item across suppliers apples to apples, so you can verify you’re getting the best deal without guessing whether the specs match.

Built for Manufacturers, Warehouses &
Industrial Facilities

CustomMHS is an authorized distributor of industrial storage and material handling equipment for manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers,
and industrial facilities across North America. From shelving systems and pallet racking to storage containers, workbenches, carts, security fencing, and cabinets,
we carry industrial-grade brands and help you choose the right specs, load ratings, and configuration for your facility, workflow, and space before you order.