Rockford Systems launches new remote Safeguarding Assessment Service
Rockford Systems, a provider of machine safeguarding and combustion safety solutions, today announced the expansion of its RS360™ workplace safety portfolio with a new Remote Safeguarding Assessment service. The Remote Safeguarding Assessment is designed for customers with less complex machine safeguarding requirements that need to be evaluated for CFR OSHA 1910, ANSI B11 series standards, and NFPA 79/70E compliance.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2017 annual survey data indicated that there were 121,860 hand injuries and 6,090 non-fatal amputation cases – involving days away from work – for all private industry. Approximately 60 percent of all workplace amputations were caused by machinery, such saws, milling machines, drill stands, bending, rolling or shaping machines, as well as from powered and non-powered hand tools, and other materials handling activities. The Remote Safeguarding Assessment can help employers and operators understand the mechanical components of machinery and the hazardous mechanical motion that occurs at or near these machines to help avoid injury.
The Remote Safeguarding Assessment service is available for customers with basic cutting and turning machines, including drill presses, vertical mills, grinders, small lathes, saws, sanders and riveters. A machine safeguarding specialist will work with customers to provide safeguarding recommendations using the same trusted methodology that Rockford Systems uses in onsite assessments, its proprietary RSXpress™ software and solution set. However, in this case, the assessment is conducted using an audio or video conference that helps save the customer time and money.
To get started, customers contact Rockford Systems and request a Remote Safeguarding Assessment. To determine the amount of time required for the remote assessment, customers are asked to provide basic machine and in-place guarding information. Upon receipt, an appointment is scheduled using either an audio conference or an interactive video conference based upon customer preference. At the conclusion of the assessment, Rockford Systems provides a comprehensive Safeguarding Report and Proposal that outlines the findings and provides suggestions to reduce risk and improve compliance, if applicable. Suggestions will be provided in the areas of guards, devices, awareness barriers/devices, safeguarding methods and/or safe work practices and will reference applicable OSHA regulations and ANSI/NFPA standards.
Matt Brenner, Vice President of Machine Safeguarding Solutions at Rockford Systems, says, “The new remote assessment offers organizations with an immediate safeguarding need or small- to mid-sized companies an economical approach to mission-critical guarding solutions, with the same comprehensive reporting as our onsite assessments.”
Joe Nitiss, CEO of Rockford Systems, adds, “At Rockford Systems, we are experts at machine guarding because it has been our sole focus for over 45 years. We are here to help businesses, large and small, address machine safety challenges, including removing the burden of understanding and applying OSHA regulations and ANSI standards for compliance and reducing risk. Many of our customers have smaller turnkey applications and, for them, the utilization of remote communication technologies can provide immediate access and quick turnaround.”
