What Is an Emergency Stop Button?
An emergency stop button is a button that is used only when the functions of a machine need to be halted immediately. These buttons can be pressed when anything regarding the machine's functions or the operator's surroundings pose a threat to production or safety. Emergency stop buttons put an end to a machine's current functions, so the functions of any other machine related to the stopped machine might also have to modified when the button is pressed.
As a safety measure, emergency stop buttons are a critical part of potentially dangerous machines that contain electrical circuits. Emergency stop buttons can be found on gas pumps, saws, mills, cutting devices or other moving machinery used for industrial purposes, such as conveyor belts. The more complex the machine, the more likely that it will have an emergency stop button. These buttons typically work by cutting off power to the circuit that provides electricity to the machine.
These types of buttons are wired into a machine's main and normal circuitry. Once they are pressed, they break and open the circuitry, which, in turn, cuts off the electrical supply and shuts down a machine. The electrical power supply is interrupted and causes the machine to halt its functions immediately.
A standard stop button shouldn't be confused with an emergency stop button. Stop buttons are usually located next to start buttons and are generally of comparable size to the start button. However, an emergency stop button can be much larger and more obvious. Depending on the size of machine, multiple emergency stop buttons could be found on a single machine.
An emergency stop button often has a unique appearance. Unlike standard operating switches that might share a color scheme with the body of a machine, an emergency stop button can advertise its function through the color red. These buttons commonly are made of metal or plastic and can also come in different forms to suit a particular machine. For example, they can vary in position and release styles; some can require key, push-pull or twist releases.
Operators of machines should be aware that using an emergency stop button can result in the complete shutdown of a machine. Should an operator decide to restart the machine's functions, he or she might have to reset the machine and the emergency stop button manually. After this occurs, the electricity circuit that powers the machine can be closed and restored to full operation.
Written by S. Gonzales
