A Holistic Approach to Safety Automation

It's hard to imagine that some users of machinery still do only the bare minimum necessary to comply with safety standards and regulations.

Such companies not only fail to improve the safety of their operating environment, but also miss out on an opportunity to increase productivity, reduce downtime, and cut costs. Today, what's needed is a truly holistic approach to safety automation, which includes everything from the design of the machinery to the education and training of operators, regular safety audits and assessments, and a corporate culture that puts safety first.

“At Rockwell Automation, we see safety as one of the automation paths a company must address to remain competitive,” says Lyle Masimore, business manager, safety business at Rockwell Automation. ”Instead of designing machines and processes and then considering safety, we believe that safety should be dealt with as part of the overall automation strategy.”

By advising companies to think about safety upfront, Rockwell Automation helps their customers take advantage of information from the safety equipment and incorporate that data into the design of automation systems. “By taking a holistic approach, we give companies the opportunity to accommodate all of the workplace paths in a proactive, safe manner,” says Masimore... Read more

Rockwell Automation Makes Risk Assessment Pay - Most manufacturers know that identifying safety hazards is the first step to reducing risk.

In today's competitive environment, savvy companies understand that risk assessment is also a key to improving overall productivity. A risk assessment—conducted by a qualified risk assessment expert—serves to safeguard machines and improve productivity as it defines the mitigating techniques that reduce risk to an acceptable level.

“There's no question that a documented risk assessment provides valuable information and can potentially lead to improved productivity and the discovery of process improvements,” says Michael J. Duta, PE, manager, Rockwell Automation Safety Services. “When properly conducted, a risk assessment will identify the hazards of a machine as well as the safety circuit architecture that needs to be applied to safeguard it.”

According to Duta, risk assessment is crucial as companies work to build safety into the design of a production system or remove hazards from existing installations. By leveraging the experience of the personnel who run the machines, the assessment can identify exposure to hazards that people not involved with machine operation would never consider. “A key element in risk assessment is having the right people involved in identifying hazards,” says Duta... Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT

Safety Automation Forum

Mark your calendar for Safety Automation Forum, an industry event produced by Rockwell Automation and Automation World. Join safety experts on November 18, 2008, in Nashville, Tenn., one-day prior to the opening of the Automation Fair exhibits, for discussions on risk assessment, best practices and safety standards. For more information, click here >>