ANSI B11.19-2019: Performance Requirements For Risk Reduction Measures: Safeguarding And Other Means Of Reducing Risk focuses on an integral topic when it comes to machines: risk. As we discussed in our post on ANSI B11.0-2020, ever since human ancestors grasped the hand axe nearly 2 million years ago, risk has always loomed near machinery.
While the risk associated with machinery has proliferated since this time, so have the efforts to reduce it. According to ANSI B11.19-2019, some common risk reduction measures for machines include “engineering controls – guards,” “engineering controls – control functions,” “engineering controls – devices,” “administrative controls,” and machines that are inherently safe by design.
In fact, this Type-B standard—it addresses the overall concept of risk reduction measures that apply to a broad array of machines while containing specific requirements in certain areas—covers these risk reduction measures in its clauses.
For these machine risk reduction measures, ANSI B11.19-2019 provides performance requirements for design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance.
Please note, however, that the ANSI B11.19-2019 standard does not provide requirements for selecting a risk reduction measure for a particular application.
Changes to ANSI B11.19-2019
Collecting previously scattered information on risk associated with machines, ANSI B11.19 was first published in 1990. The current American National Standard, ANSI B11.19-2019 revises the 2010 edition of the same document.
There’s one change made that any past user of the standard will notice: the title. While ANSI B11.19-2010 was titled “Performance Requirements for Safeguarding,” ANSI B11.19-2019 is “Performance Requirements For Risk Reduction Measures: Safeguarding And Other Means Of Reducing Risk.” This change was not topical, as the current standard saw a major organizational revision, using the hazard control hierarchy as a general structure.
In addition, the standard has been changed notably in the following ways:
- The concept of “complimentary equipment and measures” was removed.
- Definitions found in ANSI B11.0 and applicable ISO and IEC standards were improved and harmonized.
- The responsibilities of the supplier, user, integrator/modifier/rebuilder, and personnel were clarified.
- New requirements for Partial Guards, Nip Guards, and Trapped (Captive) Key.
- Perimeter Guards (barriers), Perimeter Risk Reduction Measures, and Whole Body Access content was segmented.
- New requirements for control functions—including safe conditions (safe motion, safe speed, etc.), safety-related reset, safety-related sensing field switching, whole body access, and span of control.
- New information regarding safety distance and reaching distance for both protective structures and devices was added to the informative annexes of the document.
ANSI B11.19-2019 (R2024): Performance Requirements For Risk Reduction Measures: Safeguarding And Other Means Of Reducing Risk is available on the ANSI Webstore. Since the information contained within this standard is supported greatly by other documents, it might be useful to acquire it as part of a standards package, in which multiple standards are bundled together, often at a discount. Packages featuring this American National Standard include:
ANSI B11 Machine Tools Safety Package
ASME B20.1 / ANSI B11.19 – Conveyors Safety Set