This document establishes values for safety distances in both
industrial and non-industrial environments to prevent machinery
hazard zones being reached. The safety distances are appropriate
for protective structures. It also gives information about
distances to impede free access by the lower limbs (see Annex B).
This document covers people of 14 years and older (the 5th
percentile stature of 14-year-olds is approximately 1 400 mm). In
addition, for upper limbs only, it provides information for
children older than 3 years (5th percentile stature of 3-year-olds
is approximately 900 mm) where reaching through openings needs to
be addressed.
NOTE 1
It is not practical to specify safety distances for all
persons. Therefore, the values presented are intended to cover
the 95th percentile of the population.
Data for preventing lower limb access for children is not
considered.
The distances apply when sufficient risk reduction can be
achieved by distance alone. Because safety distances depend on
size, some people of extreme dimensions will still be able to reach
hazard zones even when the requirements of this document are
met.
Compliance with the requirements in this document will prevent
access to the hazard zone. Nevertheless the user of this document
is advised that it does not provide the required risk reduction for
every hazard (e.g. hazards related to machine emissions such as
ionizing radiation, heat sources, noise, dust).
The clauses covering lower limbs apply on their own only when
access by the upper limbs to the same hazard zone is not
foreseeable according to the risk assessment.
The safety distances are intended to protect those persons
trying to reach hazard zones under the conditions specified (see 4.1.1).
NOTE 2
This document is not intended to provide measures against
reaching a hazard zone by climbing over (see
ISO 14120:2015, 5.18).