Safety Alert - Machinery Safety: Safety Devices
Date published:
Introduction
As part of HSENI’s Workplace Health Campaign 2025/26, recent inspections in the stone‑working industry have identified significant issues with the use and maintenance of safety devices on machinery such as bridge saws, CNC routers and stone polishers.
Safety devices - including interlocks, light guards, curtains, trip wires and pressure mats - are essential for preventing access to dangerous moving parts. Their purpose is to stop the machine if someone could otherwise come into contact with parts that can cause serious or fatal injuries. Similar failings in the past have led to life‑changing and fatal incidents, highlighting the importance of ensuring these systems are fully effective.
Issue
Inspectors found that safety devices had been bypassed or disabled on several machines to speed up production. Businesses must have proper arrangements in place to ensure these devices are working effectively, including regular checks, inspections and maintenance.
Enforcement notices were served where businesses failed to ensure safety devices were kept in good condition and working properly, as required under Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (PUWER).
Action required
Businesses must ensure that access to all dangerous moving parts is prevented by suitable guarding or safety devices, and that these devices are properly selected, installed, used and maintained.
Safety devices must:
- be suitable for their intended purpose
- be well‑constructed, durable and strong
- be maintained in good condition and effective working order
- not introduce new risks
- not be easily bypassed or disabled
- be positioned at a safe distance from danger
- allow operators to see the machine where necessary
- enable essential maintenance or part changes while still restricting access to dangerous areas as far as possible
Please see an example PUWER Compliance Checklist at the following link:
HSENI follow-up action
HSENI will be carrying out spot inspections across the stone‑working sector to check whether businesses have taken appropriate action following these findings. Where safety devices are missing, not working, or have been bypassed, HSENI will take enforcement action, which may include further notices or prosecution where serious failings are identified.
Important information
Given recent findings and the history of serious injuries linked to similar failings, HSENI urges all businesses to review how they select, use and check machinery guarding and safety devices, to ensure workers are fully protected.