Cable-Pull Safety Switches
Machine ControlProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Cable-Pull Safety Switches

Full coverage E-Stop protection around your machinery We all know the importance of having emergency stop devices near and around machinery. There are numerous regulations (ANIS, ISO, IEC) that define emergency stop device requirements. In short they all state that they are actuated by a “single human action”, should be used to de-energize equipment to…
Locking Safety Interlock Switches
ProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Locking Safety Interlock Switches

Most of us are familiar with safety interlock switches that can disable a safety circuit and notify us if a guard has been removed, the gate is open or something has been tampered with. There are many options to chose from including tongue interlock switches, hinge safety interlock switches and non-contact safety switches. Many of…
Bypass-Resistant Safety Devices Ensure Effective Machine Guarding
ProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Bypass-Resistant Safety Devices Ensure Effective Machine Guarding

Machine safeguarding devices protect operators at points of access and operation. Here’s how they work. Jim Krebs, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the April 2019 issue of ISHN titled Bypass-resistant safety devices ensure effective machine guarding, where Jim describes the need for machine safeguarding, and how the various types work. The…
Regulations Require Surge Protection for Safety Circuits
ProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Regulations Require Surge Protection for Safety Circuits

Recent additions to the National Electrical Code (NEC) mandate surge protection for safety interlock circuits to protect operators and machinery. Brent Purdy PE is the Product Manager for Power & Circuit Protection products at AutomationDirect. Brent authored an article for the June 2019 issue of Automation.com titled Regulations Require Surge Protection for Safety Circuits. Here’s…
Safety Controllers Simplify Systems
ProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Safety Controllers Simplify Systems

Safety Controllers are often a better option than multiple safety relays, especially for more complex applications. Larry Reynolds, product engineer for sensor and safety products at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the February 2019 issue of IMPO titled Safety Controllers Simplify Systems. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. Reynolds…
Compressed Air Can Be Lethal
+Tech TopicsLearning ResourcesProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Compressed Air Can Be Lethal

Compressed air can cause many hazards to workers’ eyes in manufacturing facilities, so review of applicable OSHA standards, common misuse and how to minimize hazards is always a good idea. Jim Krebs, technical marketing engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the January 2019 edition of ISHN magazine titled Compressed air can be lethal. Here’s…
Safety First! A Look at the Importance of Industrial Safety Devices
ProductSafetySafety Common Sense

Safety First! A Look at the Importance of Industrial Safety Devices

There are safety related features in practically every device we use, industrial and non-industrial. Electrical devices and appliances have housings that protect consumers from electrical hazards. Motorized devices have housings intended to prevent any possible injury to users from dangerous moving parts and/or electrical components. Industrial facilities have many safety features including safety signs that…