Which type of hazard does a light curtain help to mitigate?

A light curtain is designed specifically to enhance safety in environments where machinery or equipment operates. It is a type of protective device commonly used in industrial settings to prevent unintended access to hazardous areas, especially where moving parts could cause injury. By creating a barrier of invisible light beams, a light curtain can immediately detect when an object or person enters a potentially dangerous zone. If this occurs, it triggers a safety response, such as shutting down the machine.

This function directly addresses mechanical hazards, which are associated with machinery and equipment that can cause physical harm through entrapment, cutting, or crushing. The light curtain acts as a proactive measure to stop operations before an injury can occur, making it essential for safeguarding workers from mechanical risks.

Other types of hazards, such as chemical, electrical, and biological, do not correlate with the protective mechanisms offered by light curtains. For instance, chemical hazards involve exposure to toxic substances, electrical hazards pertain to risks involving electrical systems, and biological hazards relate to risks posed by viruses, bacteria, or other living organisms. Light curtains are specifically tailored for addressing mechanical dangers, thereby reinforcing the significance of their role in promoting workplace safety.