This standard specifies safety requirements and their verification for the design and construction of power take-off (PTO) drive shafts and their guards linking self-propelled machinery (or tractor) to the first fixed bearing of recipient machinery, by describing methods for the elimination or reduction of risks which need specific requirements. This standard concerns only the PTO drive shafts and those guards which are mechanically linked to the PTO drive shaft by at least two bearings. In addition, it specifies the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer. This standard does not deal with: - the guards totally covering, but not mechanically linked to, the PTO drive shaft. As these devices are not at present widely established on the market, they should be dealt with in a future revision of this standard; - the mechanical characteristics of PTO drive shafts, overrun devices and torque limiters; - general hazards which are dealt with in EN 1553 (see introduction). Environmental aspects have not been considered in this standard. This document is not applicable to PTO drive shafts and their guards which are manufactured before the date of publication of this document by CEN.