Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Risk assessment and risk reduction

Protective measure

Also known as: risk reduction measure

German: Schutzmaßnahme

In machine safety under ISO 12100, a protective measure is a measure intended to achieve risk reduction. It can be implemented by the designer, through inherently safe design, safeguarding and complementary protective measures, and information for use, or by the user, through organization, safe working procedures, additional safeguards, personal protective equipment and training.

  • Machine safety
  • Risk assessment

In one sentence

A protective measure is any measure intended to reduce risk, taken by the designer or the user, as defined in ISO 12100.

Example

For a shearing hazard at a cutting unit, the designer reduces the gap, adds a fixed guard and warns about residual risk in the manual; the user adds training and a lockout procedure for blade changes.

How it applies

  • Order: Designers apply protective measures in the order of the Three-step method: inherently safe design first, then safeguarding and complementary protective measures, then information for use.
  • Designer vs. user: Measures taken by the user do not replace those the designer can take. The manufacturer cannot hand over a design problem to the operator's procedures.
  • Evaluation: After each measure, the risk is re-evaluated, and new hazards introduced by the measure itself are considered.
  • Documentation: Record each protective measure in the risk assessment with the hazard it addresses. The documentation team should make sure that measures relying on the user, such as PPE or training, are stated clearly in the instructions.

Safeguard vs. information for use

Both are protective measures, but of different strength. A Safeguard such as a guard or protective device acts without the user's cooperation. Information for use only informs and warns about residual risks; it must not be used to compensate for missing safeguards.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: ISO 12100:2010, Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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