Posted By Michael Grant Hi, I work as a safety rep in an oil refinery, I am currently in discussions with the area mechanical engineers about guarding of machinery. The main point of contention is that although all of the centrifugal pumps on site (high hundreds)have sufficient fixed guards around the couplings (between pump and motor/turbine) there is an area of unguarded rotating shaft typically about 3 to 4 inches long, where the pump mechanical seals are fitted. My point is that this is a failure to comply with mhswr reg 11 (poss' BSEN5199/API 610??), and that we should have a programme put in place to design and retro fit sufficient guards. The engineers position is along the lines of budgetary constraints(which i can understand to a degree) and that the competency of the operators will mitigate against them putting their hands into the seal housing. I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences or advice on the matter? Cheers, Mick

Posted By Michael Grant Hi anon, On the majority of the larger pumps concerned there there is enough space to get your whole hand onto the shaft. In my opinion there is a definite requirement for guarding around the housings, I was just wondering if there was perhaps something else I had missed eg exceptions for older plant etc.. Thanks, Mick