BS EN ISO 13857 Safety Distance Calculator
Here’s a comprehensive table summarizing key information about BS EN ISO 13857 safety distances. This standard specifies the minimum distances required to prevent operators from reaching hazardous areas with their limbs. These distances are critical to maintaining safety in machinery and industrial environments.
BS EN ISO 13857 Safety Distance Table: All You Need to Know
| Body Part | Hazard Type | Reach Distance (mm) | Minimum Safety Distance (mm) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Limb | General Hazard | 100 - 500 | Reach distance + 850 | To prevent access to general hazards, safety distance should be greater than reach distance plus 850 mm. |
| Upper Limb | Crushing Hazard | 100 - 500 | Reach distance + 1200 | For crushing hazards, a larger safety distance (reach + 1200 mm) is required to ensure proper protection. |
| Lower Limb | General Hazard | 100 - 800 | Reach distance + 1000 | Lower limbs require a safety distance of reach distance + 1000 mm to prevent contact with general hazards. |
| Lower Limb | Crushing Hazard | 100 - 800 | Reach distance + 1500 | For crushing hazards, lower limbs require a minimum safety distance of reach + 1500 mm for proper protection. |
Detailed Breakdown of the BS EN ISO 13857 Standard:
1. Upper Limb Safety Distances
- General Hazard:
- Reach Distance: The maximum length an individual can extend their arm to reach into hazardous areas.
- Safety Distance: The minimum safety distance is determined by adding 850 mm to the reach distance to prevent the person from reaching the danger zone.
- Example: If the reach distance is 300 mm, the minimum safety distance would be 300 + 850 = 1150 mm.
- Crushing Hazard:
- Reach Distance: The maximum reach length.
- Safety Distance: For crushing hazards, a larger safety distance is required to prevent limbs from getting trapped. Add 1200 mm to the reach distance.
- Example: If the reach distance is 400 mm, the minimum safety distance would be 400 + 1200 = 1600 mm.
2. Lower Limb Safety Distances
- General Hazard:
- Reach Distance: The distance the leg can extend to reach a hazardous area.
- Safety Distance: To protect lower limbs, the required safety distance is reach distance plus 1000 mm.
- Example: If the reach distance is 500 mm, the minimum safety distance would be 500 + 1000 = 1500 mm.
- Crushing Hazard:
- Reach Distance: Maximum leg reach.
- Safety Distance: For more dangerous crushing hazards, lower limbs need an extended safety distance. Add 1500 mm to the reach distance.
- Example: If the reach distance is 600 mm, the safety distance would be 600 + 1500 = 2100 mm.
3. How to Use This Table
- Identify the body part and hazard type you are trying to protect against.
- Measure the reach distance (how far a person’s arm or leg can extend toward the hazard).
- Calculate the minimum safety distance using the formula:
Safety Distance = Reach Distance + Constant Value (based on hazard type and body part).
Key Factors Affecting Safety Distances:
- Type of Hazard: Crushing hazards require greater distances than general hazards due to the higher risk of entrapment.
- Body Part: Different safety distances apply for upper limbs (arms/hands) and lower limbs (legs/feet).
- Reach Distance: The distance a person can reach impacts how far away the hazard needs to be to ensure they cannot come into contact with it.
BS EN ISO 13857 Applications:
- Machinery Safety: Ensures that operators cannot reach dangerous moving parts, such as rotating gears, conveyor belts, or cutting tools.
- Safety Guards: Used to determine how far protective barriers (e.g., mesh guards, safety fences) need to be from machinery.
- Designing Industrial Equipment: Helps engineers design equipment that complies with safety regulations by providing clear safety distances.
Additional Safety Considerations:
- Access Holes: If the machinery has openings or access points, the dimensions of the holes should also follow the guidelines to ensure that fingers, hands, or other body parts cannot reach the danger zones.
- Speed of Machine Movement: The speed at which machine parts move can influence the required safety distance. Faster-moving parts may need increased safety distances.
Summary of Safety Distance Guidelines:
| Body Part | General Hazard | Crushing Hazard | Minimum Safety Distance Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Limb | Reach Distance + 850 mm | Reach Distance + 1200 mm | Safety Distance = Reach Distance + Constant Value |
| Lower Limb | Reach Distance + 1000 mm | Reach Distance + 1500 mm | Safety Distance = Reach Distance + Constant Value |
Example Use Case:
Scenario: A machine has moving parts that present a general hazard. The operator can reach up to 300 mm into the machine with their arm (upper limb).
- Body Part: Upper Limb
- Hazard Type: General
- Reach Distance: 300 mm
- Minimum Safety Distance:
300 mm + 850 mm = 1150 mm
Thus, the barrier or protective guard must be placed at least 1150 mm away from the machine’s hazardous parts.
Importance of BS EN ISO 13857:
- Legal Compliance: Many countries require adherence to these safety standards for workplace machinery.
- Worker Safety: Following these guidelines helps prevent accidents and injuries in industrial environments.
- Design Efficiency: It helps manufacturers design safe and compliant machinery by specifying clear distances to prevent accidental contact with dangerous machine parts.