Emergency shut down pushbutton

[wllthwa1]

Can an emergency pushbutton have a clear plastic hinged cover over it to protect it from accidental pushing?

 

[ron]

Generally yes.

 

[eric9822]

I don't know of a standard that says you can't but we don't allow it. An emergency stop needs to be accessible and able to be pushed by a person in a panic who may not have full use of his hands. We had a guy get hung up in a machine and he had to hit the e-stop with is foot. If a plastic cover had been installed he may not have been able to stop the machine.

 

[highendtron]

I have installed many flip type clear plastic covers over e-stop pushbuttons at both GM and Ford. Neither wanted any accidental occurances where one could brush or push against the mushroom button and stop production. Makes those nice American made cars more expensive anytime the line stops...

 

[tomP]

I have installed many flip type clear plastic covers over e-stop pushbuttons at both GM and Ford. Neither wanted any accidental occurances where one could brush or push against the mushroom button and stop production. Makes those nice American made cars more expensive anytime the line stops...

Sorry, but you violated the structure standards of Ford if you installed an E-Stop in this way.
Here is the part you violated:
1.3.11.2.2 Emergency Stop Pushbuttons shall never be guarded.

 

[brian john]

I don't know of a standard that says you can't but we don't allow it. An emergency stop needs to be accessible and able to be pushed by a person in a panic who may not have full use of his hands. We had a guy get hung up in a machine and he had to hit the e-stop with is foot. If a plastic cover had been installed he may not have been able to stop the machine.

Depends what it is for. On machinery I wouldn't, in regards to an EPO, I'd have 3 of them.

In 39 years of doing data center work I have NEVER seen a data center EPO utilized for a NECESSARY shut down. I have a 100 of case's of accidental shut downs.

 

[eric9822]

Depends what it is for. On machinery I wouldn't, in regards to an EPO, I'd have 3 of them.

In 39 years of doing data center work I have NEVER seen a data center EPO utilized for a NECESSARY shut down. I have a 100 of case's of accidental shut downs.

Agreed. For a data center EPO I would use a flush pushbutton with a cover. I assumed the OP was referring to a machine emergency stop. Proper placement of a machine emergency stop can eliminate nuisance stops while still allowing for a person in trouble to quickly stop the machine. Covers are asking for trouble.

 

[e57]

Can an emergency pushbutton have a clear plastic hinged cover over it to protect it from accidental pushing?

Depends on what the button is for, and why it is required IMO. Does the shut-down create a hazard? An inconvieniance? What is the code or law requiring the shut-down? I think looking into that will give you a better idea of how to answer the question.

Osha will have some say about this depending on what this button is for...

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=0&p_keyvalue=


http://www.sti.com/ltr2/access.php?file=pdf/OSHAElecRequirmts_8007.pdf

Also see NFPA 79 section 10.7 & 10.8