According to safety regulations, how must couplings on pumps be configured?

The proper configuration of couplings on pumps must be guarded to ensure safety in a wastewater treatment facility. Guarding couplings serves to protect operators and maintenance personnel from possible injury caused by moving parts. When couplings are not shielded, there is an increased risk of accidents, such as entanglement or contact with rotating components, which can lead to serious injuries.

Guarding couplings also plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the equipment. It can help prevent contaminants, debris, or foreign objects from interfering with the operation of the pump, thereby improving the overall safety of the working environment.

In contrast, open, uncovered, or isolated configurations do not provide the same level of protection or safety assurance. Open configurations expose the couplings to potential hazards without any barrier, uncovered points to a lack of protective measures, and isolated configurations could refer to separating parts but does not address the need for physical safeguarding around moving components. Therefore, the guarded option is the only one that effectively addresses safety requirements in a practical and operational context.