The safety grating is a photoelectric device that prevents personnel from approaching mobile machinery, which can avoid casualties. This type of mobile machinery includes punches, winding machines, palletizers, elevators, etc. Safety gratings can be used to replace traditional mechanical barriers or other forms of mechanical protection, and can also increase the maintainability of equipment. Combined with safety gratings, it can also increase the operability and efficiency of mechanical equipment (such as some semi-automatic equipment).

Safety gratings can be classified as presence detection devices, while other common presence detection devices include pressure sensitive safety pads and laser scanners (commonly used in remote control vehicles in industrial applications). The main application of most industrial safety relays is in workstations with robots.

The safety grating is composed of a combination of a transmitter and a receiving device. The transmitter will transmit a set of infrared beams, and the receiving device will include many light sensors. If an object is between the transmitter and the receiving device, and the receiving device cannot receive a complete signal, it will send a stop signal to the monitoring device.

The beam sent by the safety grating transmitter is sequential and sent out at a specific frequency. The detector can only receive specific pulses of a specific frequency sent by the transmitter, thus avoiding the influence of other infrared light sources and improving its applicability in safety systems.

Generally, the safety grating is connected to the safety relay, and if an object is detected, it will automatically remove the power source that may cause harm. Cooperating with safety relays can also temporarily suspend the function of the safety grating, allowing objects to pass through the safety grating without generating protective signals, which is applicable in some semi-automatic programs.

In modern chemical plants, humans and machines work together, and potentially dangerous mechanical equipment such as stamping machinery, shearing equipment, metal cutting equipment, automated assembly lines, automated welding lines, mechanical conveying and handling equipment, hazardous areas (toxic, high-pressure, high-temperature, etc.) can easily cause personal injury to operators. Safety grating is an advanced technology that protects workers around various hazardous mechanical equipment. Compared with the traditional protection measures, such as mechanical fence, sliding door, pull back limit, etc., the safety grating is more free and flexible, and can reduce the fatigue of the operator. By reasonably reducing the need for physical protection, the safety grating simplifies routine tasks such as equipment installation, maintenance, and repair.