ISO 13857:2019

Overview - ISO 13857:2019 (Safety distances for machinery)

ISO 13857:2019 specifies safety distances to prevent people reaching machinery hazard zones with their upper and lower limbs. It applies to industrial and non‑industrial environments and is intended for use with protective structures (guards, impeding devices). The standard addresses people aged 14 years and older (5th percentile stature ≈ 1 400 mm) and, for upper‑limb reach through openings, provides guidance for children older than 3 years (5th percentile ≈ 900 mm). Values are selected to cover the 95th percentile of the population and apply where distance alone can provide sufficient risk reduction.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Safety distances (sr): Minimum separation between protective structure and hazard zone to prevent limb reach.
• Reach situations covered:
  • Reaching upwards (height thresholds: typically ≥ 2 700 mm; ≥ 2 500 mm in low‑risk cases)
  • Reaching over protective structures
  • Reaching around structures
  • Reaching through openings (upper limbs and, in some tables, lower limbs)
• Use of tables and selection rules: The standard provides tables (e.g., Table 1 and Table 2) linking hazard height, guard height and horizontal safety distances. Table 1 is intended for minor injuries with low probability; Table 2 for higher risk situations. Annex A explains table use and interpolation rules.
• Lower limb considerations: Separate clauses and Annex B give distances to impede free access by lower limbs; these apply alone only when upper‑limb access is not foreseeable.
• Assumptions and limitations:
  • Reference plane (normal standing level), no aids (chairs, ladders, tools), normal footwear, and no climbing.
  • Distance measures assume protective structures retain shape/position.
  • Not intended for hazards where distance does not reduce risk (e.g., ionizing radiation, noise, heat, dust).
• Risk assessment guidance: Selection of the appropriate safety distance depends on severity and probability of harm in line with ISO 12100 principles.

Practical applications and users

Who should use ISO 13857:2019:

• Machine manufacturers designing guards and protective structures
• Safety engineers conducting risk assessments for machinery
• Health & safety regulators and market surveillance bodies
• Employers, maintenance teams and integrators specifying safeguards

Typical applications:

• Designing fixed guards and paneling to prevent finger, hand or leg access
• Specifying clearance distances around moving parts (feed in‑points, rotary shafts)
• Integrating reach‑distance rules into machine safety layouts and machine‑room design

Related standards

• ISO 12100:2010 - General principles for design, risk assessment and risk reduction
• ISO 14120:2015 - General requirements for guards (see climbing over prevention)

Keywords: ISO 13857:2019, safety distances, safety of machinery, protective structures, hazard zones, reach distances, machine guards, risk assessment, anthropometric data.