Protective guarding comes in a variety of styles to protect equipment, structures and workers as they perform various tasks near and around machinery and storage areas, including:

Barrier guard, machine guard, fixed guard or fixed guarding: These guards are designed to be applied directly to moving equipment or machinery to prevent workers from coming into contact with moving parts. Typically secured with at least one fastener that requires a tool to be used to remove it, the guards are large enough that a person cannot reach around, over, under or through it to access the dangerous area.

Safety rail: Guard rail with posts and rails erected to prevent individuals from coming in contact with hazards.

Perimeter guard: Fixed or portable wire mesh fencing that surrounds a work cell or machinery to prevent unauthorized access for safety or security reasons.

Bollard: One of a series of closely-spaced, low height posts fixed to a facility floor that prevent vehicles from entering an area.

Column protector: Protects rack uprights and structural rack columns from possible damage due to a collision with a lift truck or a load transported by a vehicle. Other equipment used to protect rack columns from impacts include fenders, bumpers, and rack guards. Nets and netting systems can also be installed to catch stored materials should they fall from high-bay rack storage.

Structural column protector or column cushion: Typically made of polyethylene and filled with sand or gravel, these systems wrap around a facility’s structural columns (supporting the roof) to disperse the energy of an impact, protecting against possible vehicular or load collisions.

Safety guarding or safeguards: Presence-sensing devices—such as such as light curtains, pressure sensitive mats, and sensors are used to detect the presence of an operator in proximity to potentially dangerous equipment or machinery. These can include:

• Photoelectric sensor (also called optical devices, photo eyes or electronic eyes): A device projecting a beam of light that, when interrupted, signals the presence of an object.
• Interlock: A guarding device that disables a control system, stops machine operation or prevents movement of a gate or opening until the guard is put back in place.