Glossary · Hazards and harm
Hazard point
In machine safety, a hazard point is a specific location where hazardous motion, energy or process conditions can cause harm, such as the nip between two rollers or the closing gap of a press tool.
- Machine safety
- Risk assessment
- Technical documentation
In one sentence
A hazard point is the concrete location on a machine where a hazard becomes reachable, such as a roller nip or the closing gap of a tool.
Example
The risk assessment of a packaging machine lists each hazard point, such as the sealing jaws, the film feed rollers and the cutter, with its position on the layout drawing.
How it applies
- Machine safety: Hazard points are the concrete places where a hazard becomes reachable. Listing them makes the risk assessment checkable and guides the choice of guards and safe distances.
- Technical documentation: Name hazard points consistently in the risk assessment, drawings, safety signs and instructions. The warning message for a point should use the same wording as the manual.
- Evidence: Give each hazard point an identifier, so that measures, verification results and changes can be traced to it.
Hazard point vs. hazardous zone
A hazard point is a specific location. The hazardous zone is the whole space around it in which a person can be exposed.