B6. Machine Safeguarding

Code 7.0

Production and other machinery shall be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks and barriers are to be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to workers.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure company's health and safety policy includes machine safeguarding elements including:

• a. An adequate and effective machine-safeguarding program is implemented, and workers operate machinery safely.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. All machines have adequate emergency stops.
• b. All machines have adequate safeguards.
• c. All workers operate machines safely.
• d. Process and administrative controls are in place and effective.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. Work instructions (if necessary or required) are available at the machine (or within proximity).
• b. Safe machine operation documentation is in place and available at the machine (or within proximity).

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Safe machine operation documentation is available for review.

5. Serious conditions that will result in a severe finding

• Worker operates a machine unsafely with immediate risk to life or limb.

1.1.0 (2022-06-01)

Changed

• Safeguarding rating bands genericised to the scheme-wide severity definition: The explicit per-criterion Major/Minor bands on the surviving safeguarding provision were replaced by "See finding severity definition". The Priority immediate-risk trigger and the Not-Applicable band were preserved verbatim; no finding that passed under the old bands becomes a fail under the generic rubric, so no pass->fail flip.

Removed

• Standalone machinery permits/licenses/testing-reports provision removed: The 7.0.0 standalone permits/licenses/testing-reports provision (old B6.1, with its own Major/Minor rating) was deleted from B6 and relocated to the Health & Safety management-system clause. Removing an audit requirement loosens B6 — it only removes ways to fail — so every prior pass still passes, hence minor.

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

• Initial historical baseline — Machine Safeguarding (RBA Code of Conduct 7.0): Earliest imported version. Two provisions: (B6.1) all required machinery permits, licenses and testing reports are in place with a renewal process, rated Major if permits/reports are missing or two or more minimum elements are missing/ineffective and Minor if one element is missing; and (B6.2) an adequate and effective machine-safeguarding program with adequate emergency stops and safeguards, safe operation, a documented machine risk assessment (pre-purchase/pre-installation hazard review), regular inspection and preventive maintenance, and worker work instructions, rated with explicit per-criterion Priority/Major/Minor bands (Priority = unsafe operation with immediate risk of life or limb).