Machines Safety has to meet many standards, as the risks are high and the consequences sometimes dangerous. Integrating safety engineering as early as possible in the machine design process increases product safety. In the event of a major engineering problem, companies are legally obliged to investigate the cause of the incident. It turns out that the only evidence available that the product is safe is that it conforms to standards. Indeed, these standards allow for specific documentation to be established, thus providing this proof.
ROSAS’ safety engineers help to assess the safety and compliance of machines and to achieve the CE mark in conformity with the Directive 2006/42/CE. Although there are several European Directives that apply to the safety of industrial machinery and equipment, the most relevant is the Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/). This directive has a dual objective: to allow the free movement of machinery within the internal market whilst ensuring a high level of protection of health and safety.
It is the manufacturer's responsibilty or his authorized representative to ensure that the equipment supplied is in conformity with the Directives. This standard covers machinery, interchangeable equipment, safety components, lifting accessories, chains, ropes and webbing, removable mechanical transmission devices and partly completed machinery, and requires the following actions:
Usually, the machinery directive only requires self-certification. However, certain types of equipment are subject to special measures. Those equipments are listed in Annex IV of the Directive which includes hazardous machines such as woodworking machines, presses, injection moulding machines, underground equipment, vehicle servicing lifts, etc. Annex IV Machines require an examination from a notified body. ROSAS engineers prepare all the documentation required for the examination and can serve as intermediaries between the company and the best suited notified body.
In addition to machines, partly completed machinery also require a safety analysis. When separate equipment are assembled to form a complete machine, a declaration of incorporation should be issued with it. In this case, a documented safety analysis is mandatory, although CE marking is not compulsory. The declaration should state that the equipment must not be put in service until the machine into which it has been incorporated has been declared in conformity. A Technical File must be prepared and the partly completed machinery must be supplied with information containing a description of the conditions which must be met with a view to correct incorporation in the final machinery, so as not to compromise safety. In summary:
The European Machinery Directive (2006/42/CE) is not the only applicable Directive. Others may be involved, such as Low-voltage Directive (2014/35/EU), EMC Directive (2014/30/EU), ATEX product Directive (2014/34/EU), Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU). In fact, there are hundreds of standards and directives, which are all constantly evolving. Without standards, the machine directives doesn't enable the designs to be safe enough. While directives address the question “what do you need to be safe? ”, standards answer the question “how to be safe?”. ROSAS engineers offer their expertise to apply the different Directives and Harmonized Standards correctly. ROSAS supports you in:
In addition to the optimization of your process, our team can support you in applying the methods below.
Methods and Processes :
Fundamental machinery standards :
By continuing to browse this site, you agree to the use of cookies to improve your user experience and to provide website statistics.