An electronic survey of Control Design readers was conducted in October 2013 in order to identify usage and application trends of machine safety among the industrial machine builders that comprise Control Design's readership.

When asked to identify all the safety components on their machines, 96% of the respondents report having e-stop buttons; 82% have safety relays; 72% have gate or door interlocks, and a further 72% have status indicators/stack tower lights ; 61% have operator panel access controls, 50% have light curtains; 49% have visual status sensors; 47% have programmable safety controllers; and 28% have safety mat.