Selecting the right protective guarding solution shouldn’t feel like guesswork. Yet for many facilities, identifying the best way to address safety risks—from forklift impacts to falling objects—can be a challenge. To make that process easier, the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) has launched an updated Protective Guarding Search Tool. This comprehensive, user-friendly resource helps operations managers quickly find the right solutions for their specific needs.

A Modern Protective Guarding Search Tool Built for Today’s Users

ProGMA’s updated Protective Guarding Search Tool reflects a broader digital update recently undertaken by MHI across its industry group microsites. But beyond a visual upgrade, the new version delivers meaningful improvements in usability and functionality.

“We were really excited to bring the tool into the refreshed website experience,” said Haley Craig, Marketing Manager at SpaceGuard Products, a member of ProGMA. Craig currently serves as Chair of group’s marketing committee. “It’s much more modern, clean, and easier for users to navigate.”

The result is a search tool that aligns with how today’s safety professionals search for information—quickly, visually, and by application.

Tool Now Lets You Search by Need

One of the most impactful updates to the Protective Guarding Search Tool is how it organizes information, continued Craig.

“Previously, users needed to know exactly what product they were looking for, with solutions listed alphabetically,” she said. “Now, the tool offers more advanced filtering structured around categories tied to real-world challenges.”

Categories include:

• Area partitioning and security
• Elevated platform and fall safety
• Facility and asset protection
• Loading dock safety
• Pallet rack safety
• Pedestrian and traffic management
• Personnel and workforce protection

“If you already knew what you were looking for, the old format worked,” Craig explained. “But most users come to the tool because they’re not entirely sure what they need. Now, you can search by the area you’re trying to protect and see what solutions are available.”

This evolution makes the Protective Guarding Search Tool more intuitive and more valuable for identifying risks and uncovering the right solutions, she said.

A More Intuitive and Connected Tool

The updated tool also introduces enhanced filtering and navigation features that help users explore options more efficiently.

The tool groups solutions in a scrollable, category-based layout, with related technologies linked throughout. This allows users to move seamlessly between options and compare different approaches.

“You might start by looking at bollards but then realize there are other related solutions that could work better for your application,” Craig said. “Everything is interconnected, which makes it easier to find the right fit.”

Users of the Protective Guarding Search Tool can also filter by manufacturer, making it simple to explore solutions from trusted ProGMA member companies.

A Streamlined Protective Guarding Search Tool Experience

As part of the update, ProGMA consolidated several legacy resources into the Protective Guarding Search Tool, including application studies, fundamentals, and equipment listings.

“Previously, we had a bit of redundancy across all of ProGMA’s resources,” Craig noted. “Now everything is streamlined into one place, with clearer descriptions and more consistent terminology. Its design makes searches as easy as possible for users.”

Each listing within the search tool includes updated descriptions and direct links to participating manufacturers. This helps users move quickly from research to implementation.

Further, unlike static resources, the tool’s design will allow it to evolve with the industry.

“This is a live tool,” she added. “We’re continuously adding technologies and making updates as new solutions become available.”

This ensures the search tool remains current, relevant, and valuable as new protective guarding solutions enter the market.

Moving Beyond Temporary Fixes

Frequently, facilities address safety challenges with temporary or improvised solutions that can become permanent over time. By showcasing a wide range of proven options, the Protective Guarding Search Tool helps facilities shift from reactive fixes to proactive, engineered safety strategies, said Craig.

“Sometimes an operation fixes a guarding need in the moment, but that workaround might not provide the optimal protection,” she explained. “This tool gives users a way to see if there’s a safer, more effective solution available.”

Ultimately, the tool supports ProGMA’s mission to serve as a trusted safety resource for the material handling industry.

“We want to be seen as a go-to resource for facility safety and protective guarding,” Craig concluded. “This tool is really the culmination of all the solutions our members provide—brought together in one place.”

Find More Protective Guarding Resources

Looking for more ways to safeguard the people and assets in your facility? The members of ProGMA publish a variety of safety solution resources and information. In addition to the updated Protective Guarding Search Tool, the group offers a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), case studies, and more. Visit ProGMA’s website at mhi.org/progma.