Common Equipment That Requires a PHSR in Ontario

If your business is installing or modifying industrial equipment, one of the first questions to ask is whether a Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PHSR) is required before the equipment is put into operation.
PHSRs are commonly associated with industrial machinery, production equipment, safeguarding systems, material-handling equipment, and processes that introduce specific workplace hazards.
However, not every new machine automatically requires a PHSR. Whether a review is required depends on the equipment, the installation, the modifications being made, the hazards involved, and the applicable requirements under Ontario’s occupational health and safety legislation.
This guide covers common types of industrial equipment and systems that may require a PHSR or should be evaluated to determine whether a PHSR is required.
Important: Equipment appearing on this list does not automatically mean that a PHSR is required in every circumstance. The applicable requirements should be assessed based on the specific equipment, process, installation, and modifications involved.
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What About Equipment That Does Not Appear on This List?

Not appearing on this list does not mean that a PHSR is unnecessary.
Likewise, appearing on this list does not automatically mean that a PHSR is required.
The purpose of this page is to identify common equipment categories that should prompt consideration of PHSR requirements.
The actual determination should be based on the specific equipment, installation, process, modifications, and applicable Ontario requirements.
If you are uncertain, it is better to determine the requirement before commissioning than to discover a compliance issue after the equipment is operating.

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PHSR Support for Industrial Equipment

PHSR.com provides specialized Pre-Start Health and Safety Review services for industrial equipment and processes in Ontario.
Through Wintek Engineering's industrial engineering capabilities, the team can address PHSR-related requirements alongside broader industrial engineering considerations.
This is particularly relevant for projects involving:
  • Dust collection
  • Explosion protection
  • Industrial process equipment
  • Equipment integration
  • Automated systems
  • Machine modifications
  • Industrial safety and compliance
The objective is practical: understand the equipment, identify the applicable requirements, document the findings, address deficiencies, and help the client reach final compliance.

What Equipment Requires a PHSR?

There is no single equipment list that can replace an engineering assessment.
A PHSR may become relevant when an employer is installing or modifying equipment or processes involving hazards addressed by Ontario's applicable requirements.
Common examples include:

Industrial machinery

Automated production equipment

Conveyors

Material-handling systems

Dust collection systems

Equipment handling combustible dust

Mixing and processing equipment

Flammable-material systems

Industrial production lines

Safeguarding and protective devices

Automated machinery and robotic systems

Certain storage and material-handling installations

The specific requirements depend on the circumstances.
Industrial machinery is one of the most common categories associated with PHSR assessments.
Examples can include:
  • Machine tools
  • Presses
  • Cutting equipment
  • Forming equipment
  • Fabrication machinery
  • Production machines
  • Processing machinery
  • Packaging machinery
The engineering review may consider hazards associated with moving parts, points of operation, machine guarding, controls, emergency stops, operator access, and interactions with other equipment.
A machine should be evaluated in the context of how it will actually be installed and operated in the workplace.

What should be reviewed?

Depending on the machine, the assessment may consider:
  • Fixed and movable guards
  • Interlocks
  • Safety devices
  • Emergency stops
  • Operator access
  • Control systems
  • Moving components
  • Pinch points
  • Nip points
  • Points of operation
  • Maintenance access
  • Integration with other equipment
Modern manufacturing facilities often use automated equipment that combines multiple machines, sensors, controls, conveyors, robots, and safety systems.
Examples include:
  • Automated production cells
  • Robotic work cells
  • Automated assembly equipment
  • CNC production systems
  • Automated packaging systems
  • Integrated manufacturing lines
These installations can be more complicated than evaluating a single machine because hazards may exist at the interfaces between individual pieces of equipment.
For example, an automated production cell may involve:
Machine → Conveyor → Robot → Processing Station → Conveyor → Packaging Equipment
Each component may have its own safeguards, but the entire system also needs to operate safely as an integrated process.
A PHSR assessment can therefore need to consider both individual equipment and the way the equipment interacts.
Conveyors are widely used in manufacturing, warehousing, food processing, agriculture, and other industrial environments.
Examples include:
  • Belt conveyors
  • Roller conveyors
  • Screw conveyors
  • Chain conveyors
  • Bucket conveyors
  • Automated material-handling conveyors
Potential hazards can include moving belts, rollers, chains, sprockets, pinch points, nip points, access points, and interactions with other machinery.
The assessment may also consider emergency-stop arrangements, guarding, access, and the relationship between the conveyor and connected equipment.
If a conveyor is being integrated into an existing production line, the overall system should be considered rather than evaluating the conveyor in isolation.
Dust collection systems are an important area of PHSR consideration, particularly where industrial processes generate combustible dust.
Dust collection systems may be used in:
  • Woodworking
  • Food processing
  • Agricultural operations
  • Grain handling
  • Metalworking
  • Pharmaceutical production
  • Chemical processing
  • Other industrial operations
A dust collection installation can involve substantially more than a fan and ductwork.
The overall system may include:
  • Dust collectors
  • Fans
  • Ductwork
  • Filters
  • Hoppers
  • Rotary airlocks
  • Explosion vents
  • Explosion suppression
  • Isolation devices
  • Controls
  • Process connections
Where combustible dust is present, additional fire and explosion hazards need to be considered. Wintek’s industrial engineering capabilities include dust collection system design, integration, optimization, upgrades and retrofits, along with engineering considerations related to combustible dust and explosion protection. This makes dust collection an especially relevant category for PHSR.com.
Equipment that processes, conveys, collects, or otherwise handles combustible dust can require additional engineering consideration.
Examples may include systems handling:
  • Wood dust
  • Grain dust
  • Food-product dust
  • Agricultural dust
  • Certain chemical dusts
  • Pharmaceutical dusts
  • Combustible metal dust
Potential hazards can include fire, deflagration, explosion propagation, ignition sources, and inadequate explosion protection.
A PHSR assessment involving combustible dust may therefore need to be considered alongside broader dust hazard and explosion protection engineering.
The exact requirements depend on the material, process, equipment, facility, and applicable standards.
Spray booths and related finishing equipment can introduce hazards associated with:
  • Flammable liquids
  • Vapours
  • Combustible materials
  • Ignition sources
  • Ventilation
  • Electrical equipment
  • Fire protection
PHSR.com identifies spray booths among the types of industrial systems for which PHSR support may be relevant.
The assessment should consider the complete installation, including associated ventilation, process equipment, controls, and other systems that affect safe operation.
Industrial mixers and processing equipment can create a variety of mechanical, electrical, chemical, and process hazards.
Examples include:
  • Industrial mixers
  • Blenders
  • Process vessels
  • Batch-processing equipment
  • Material-processing systems
  • Chemical processing equipment
Potential considerations may include:
  • Moving components
  • Agitators
  • Access openings
  • Interlocks
  • Guards
  • Emergency stops
  • Pressure or process hazards
  • Hazardous materials
  • Equipment integration
The specific hazards depend heavily on the process and materials being handled.
Industrial processes involving flammable liquids, solvents, or vapours can require careful engineering review.
Examples may include:
  • Solvent-handling equipment
  • Industrial coating systems
  • Finishing processes
  • Chemical processing equipment
  • Storage and dispensing systems
  • Equipment using flammable process materials
PHSR-related engineering may intersect with considerations involving ventilation, ignition sources, electrical equipment, fire protection, and process safety.
PHSR.com supports industrial clients dealing with equipment and processes where these hazards may be present.
A PHSR is not limited to large pieces of machinery.
Certain safeguarding devices and protective measures can also be relevant.
Examples may include:
  • Machine guards
  • Safety interlocks
  • Presence-sensing devices
  • Light curtains
  • Safety mats
  • Protective barriers
  • Other safety-related devices
The purpose of these systems is to prevent workers from being exposed to hazardous equipment.
When safeguarding is installed or modified, the equipment and safety system should be evaluated as part of the overall installation.
Industrial robots can introduce hazards associated with:
  • Unexpected movement
  • Automated cycles
  • Restricted access
  • End-of-arm tooling
  • Stored energy
  • Interaction with operators
  • Integration with other machines
A robotic work cell may include several layers of safeguarding, including physical barriers, interlocks, scanners, light curtains, emergency stops, and safety controls.
The PHSR assessment should consider how these systems work together.
A complete production line may contain many individual machines and systems.
For example:
Raw Material→Conveyor→Processing Machine→Dust Collection→Automated Handling→Packaging
In these situations, evaluating individual machines separately may not provide a complete picture of the hazards associated with the integrated system.
The assessment may therefore consider:
  • Equipment interfaces
  • Control-system integration
  • Emergency stops
  • Safeguarding
  • Operator access
  • Material flow
  • Energy sources
  • Process hazards
  • Dust or vapour hazards
The more interconnected the equipment becomes, the more important it is to consider the complete system.
Industrial facilities frequently use equipment to move raw materials, products, and waste.
Examples include:
  • Conveyors
  • Hoists
  • Lifting equipment
  • Automated material-handling systems
  • Bucket elevators
  • Transfer systems
  • Industrial storage and handling equipment
Depending on the equipment and installation, the engineering assessment may need to consider moving components, access, guarding, controls, structural considerations, and interactions with workers.
A PHSR question does not arise only when a company buys a brand-new machine.
Existing equipment can become relevant when it is substantially modified or integrated into a different process.
Examples might include:
  • Adding automation
  • Installing new safeguarding
  • Changing machine controls
  • Adding a conveyor
  • Integrating a robot
  • Changing the production process
  • Adding dust collection
  • Changing the material being processed
  • Connecting the machine to new equipment
A previous PHSR does not necessarily mean that future modifications are automatically covered.
The changes should be evaluated to determine whether additional engineering review is required.
Used and imported equipment can raise additional questions.
A machine may have been operating safely in another facility or jurisdiction, but that does not automatically establish that its new installation meets all applicable Ontario requirements.
Similarly, manufacturer documentation or certification from another jurisdiction does not necessarily determine whether an Ontario PHSR is required.
Before commissioning imported or used industrial equipment, employers should determine:
  • What has changed?
  • Where will the equipment be installed?
  • What process will it perform?
  • What hazards are present?
  • What safeguarding is installed?
  • How will it interact with other equipment?
  • What Ontario requirements apply?

How to Determine Whether Your Equipment Requires a PHSR

Start with five questions:

phsr

What are you installing or modifying?

Identify the equipment, process, structure, safeguarding system, or integrated installation.

Is the equipment new, modified, relocated, or being integrated?

Changes to existing equipment can be just as important as new equipment installations.

What hazards are involved?

Consider mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, explosion, combustible-dust, process, and other workplace hazards.

What Ontario requirements apply?

The determination should be made against the applicable occupational health and safety requirements and relevant engineering standards.

Is there any uncertainty?

If the answer is unclear, obtain engineering advice before startup.

PHSR Equipment Checklist

Before commissioning equipment, consider whether your project involves any of the following:

Industrial machinery

Automated machinery

Robotic equipment

Production lines

Conveyors

Safety-control systems

Dust collection systems

Spray booths

Modified machinery

Machine safeguarding

Mixing or processing equipment

Material-handling systems

Imported industrial equipment

Combustible-dust processes

Used industrial equipment

Equipment integrated with existing machinery

Flammable-liquid or solvent systems

If one or more of these applies to your project, that does not automatically establish that a PHSR is required. It does indicate that the applicable requirements should be considered.
For a more detailed decision-making guide, see:
Do I Need a PHSR?

FAQs About PHSR Process

Common categories that may require PHSR consideration include industrial machinery, automated equipment, conveyors, production lines, dust collection systems, spray booths, processing equipment, safeguarding systems, and equipment involving particular hazardous processes.
It depends on the specific conveyor, installation, hazards, and applicable requirements. A conveyor should not automatically be classified as either requiring or not requiring a PHSR without considering the circumstances.
A dust collection system may require PHSR consideration, particularly where it is part of an industrial process involving combustible dust or other significant hazards. The specific installation should be assessed to determine the applicable requirements.
An industrial robot or robotic work cell may require PHSR consideration depending on the installation and applicable requirements. The complete work cell, including safeguarding and integration with other machinery, should be considered.
Modifications can trigger additional engineering review depending on what was changed and which requirements apply. Significant changes to safeguarding, controls, automation, process conditions, or equipment integration deserve particular attention.
Used equipment is not automatically exempt. The installation and circumstances in the Ontario workplace should be evaluated to determine whether a PHSR is required.
Imported equipment should be evaluated against the requirements applicable to its Ontario installation. Certification from another jurisdiction does not automatically determine whether an Ontario PHSR is required.
No. A machine being new does not, by itself, determine whether a PHSR is required. The specific equipment, installation, modifications, hazards, and applicable requirements must be considered.
Where technical interpretation is necessary, a qualified Professional Engineer with appropriate PHSR experience can assess the equipment and circumstances and provide engineering advice.

PHSR Support for Industrial Equipment

PHSR.com provides specialized Pre-Start Health and Safety Review services for industrial equipment and processes in Ontario.
Through Wintek Engineering’s industrial engineering capabilities, the team can address PHSR-related requirements alongside broader industrial engineering considerations.
This is particularly relevant for projects involving:
  • Dust collection
  • Explosion protection
  • Industrial process equipment
  • Equipment integration
  • Automated systems
  • Machine modifications
  • Industrial safety and compliance
The objective is practical: understand the equipment, identify the applicable requirements, document the findings, address deficiencies, and help the client reach final compliance.
machine guarding

Not Sure If Your Equipment Requires a PHSR?

You do not need to determine the answer based on the equipment name alone.
Send PHSR.com the basic details of your project—including the type of equipment, location, and project information—and the engineering team can help determine the appropriate next step.
Contact PHSR.com
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