Machine disconnect behind guarding

[Electric Solutions]

Good afternoon all. I’m working on a piece of OEM equipment that has their motor disconnect mounted behind a fixed guard. The guard has to be removed (it is bolted) to access the disconnect for the conveyor motor. I understand the definition readily accessible, but since this comes from the factory in this configuration, does this rule still apply?
Thanks

 

[petersonra]

Read carefully what 430.107 actually says.

It seems pointless to put a disconnecting means behind a guard, but I don't see that it is necessarily a code violation. I wonder if either the guard or the disconnect was added after the fact.

 

[Electric Solutions]

Good point. I will check to see if the Motor controller disconnecting means is within sight of the equipment and can be locked in the off position. If so, I’m going to call it good.

 

[BillyMac59]

The disconnect may be serving merely as an isolation switch for LOTO purposes. Is the guard merely a fence or does it have a safety interlocking switch to it. As stated in post #2, the guarding may have been added after the fact during a "risk assessment" review.

 

[Electric Solutions]

Thanks for the replies everyone. An engineer on site believes everything is good to go so I guess everything is good to go. Thanks again.

 

[tthh]

IMO, a conveyor disconnect should not be behind some guard that has to be unbolted. In my much younger days, I may or may not have seen someone on a conveyor trying to nonstick a jam up and the guy's foot got stuck between in the gap between two conveyors. Fortunately, I had work boots on and it didn't end badly.

 

[retirede]

IMO, a conveyor disconnect should not be behind some guard that has to be unbolted. In my much younger days, I may or may not have seen someone on a conveyor trying to nonstick a jam up and the guy's foot got stuck between in the gap between two conveyors. Fortunately, I had work boots on and it didn't end badly.

A properly installed conveyor system will have appropriately located E-stop buttons.

The purpose of a disconnect is not to to stop a machine in an urgent situation.

 

[tthh]

A properly installed conveyor system will have appropriately located E-stop buttons.

The purpose of a disconnect is not to to stop a machine in an urgent situation.

Ok, of course, makes perfect sense...I just went to my early life folly in my brain when I read this

 

[petersonra]

A properly installed conveyor system will have appropriately located E-stop buttons.

The purpose of a disconnect is not to to stop a machine in an urgent situation.

I agree. Given the limited information we have been given to work with it is very hard to come up with a perfect answer.

 

[rafaelrobertson]

Good afternoon all. I’m working on a piece of OEM equipment that has their motor disconnect mounted behind a fixed guard. The guard has to be removed (it is bolted) to access the disconnect for the conveyor motor. I understand the definition readily accessible, but since this comes from the factory in this configuration, does this rule still apply?
Thanks

I am also facing the same issue.

 

[rambojoe]

I have seen some facility guys put discos in weird spots, just to shut down small parts of systems, which is why we say pics... Or it never happened. The kicker is, alot of places dont allow pics...