Question:
How far must the nearest hazard zone be from an opening in the protection?
 
Answer:
Slots between 3 and 12 cm in height require a distance of at least 85 cm from the hazard zone because it is assumed that an arm will fit through the opening. Slots between 2 and 3 cm require a distance of 20 cm to the hazard zone, but if the width of the opening exceeds 6.5 cm, the standard requires a distance of 85 cm to the nearest hazard zone. This is because the assumption is that an arm will fit through the slot.
Slots with a height of more than 18 cm must not be used without additional protective measures because they allow full-body access.
For Slots with a height up to 2 cm a distance of 12 cm to the hazard zone is allowed.
 
 
Square openings of 4 cm and up side length require at least a 85 cm distance to the hazard zone. This applies for square openings of up to 12 cm side length.
Square openings of more than 24 cm side lengthmust not be used without additional protective measures because they allow full-body access.
 
The range between 12 and 18 cm for slots or 12 and 24 cm for square openings requires very large safety distances, as the table "reaching through" must be used here. The table requires the following when the hazard zone is in a horizontal level with the opening:
for an opening at a height of 1.0 m, a distance to the hazard zone of 1.5 m must be used
if the opening is at a height of 1.2 m, a distance to the hazard zone of 1.4 m must be used
if the opening is at a height of 1.4 m, a distance to the hazard zone of 1.1 m must be used with an opening at a height of 1.6 m, a distance to the hazard zone of 0.9 m must be used.
 
If you have questions about the ground slots, this information is more easily available under „Which distance from the ground is the protective fence allowed to be?“
 
If you want to use my answer for your risk assessment, please buy the standards research. Then you can write me the opening dimensions of your machine. I will then search out the appropriate safety distances for you from the standard.
Please remember that there could be C- Standard specifically for your machine that contains statements on the subject. My statements refer to the B-Standards. If you provide me with your C-Standard, I will research your C-Standard on the subject.