Glossary · Guards and machine motion
Protective structure
In machine safety, a protective structure is a structure designed to prevent or reduce harm from ejected objects, falling objects, rollover or other mechanical events, for example a roll-over or falling-object protective structure on mobile machinery.
- Machine safety
- EU
In one sentence
A protective structure shields people from rollover, falling or ejected objects; its protection relies on tested strength and intact mounting.
Example
The cab of a telehandler has a falling-object protective structure over the operator's seat, and the manual forbids drilling or welding on it.
How it applies
- Machine safety: Common examples are the roll-over protective structure (ROPS) and falling-object protective structure (FOPS) on mobile machinery, and enclosures that contain fragments ejected from machine tools (ejection hazard).
- EU: The essential health and safety requirements for mobile machinery address the risks of rollover and falling objects. The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from January 20, 2027; Directive 2006/42/EC applies until then.
- Evidence: Protective structures are typically shown to perform by testing against the relevant product standard. Keep the test report with the exact structure configuration it covers.
- Technical documentation: Tell users that modifications such as drilling, welding or added loads can invalidate the structure, and that a structure damaged in an event must be replaced. Link the structure to the seat belt instruction where one applies.