Principles, Standards and Implementation

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Regulations

Regulations

EU Directives and Legislation

The purpose of this section is to act as a guide for anyone concerned with machine safety especially guarding and protective systems in the European Union. It is intended for designers and users of industrial equipment.

In order to promote the concept of an open market within the European Economic Area (EEA) (which comprises all EU Member States plus three other countries) all member states are obliged to enact legislation that defines essential safety requirements for machinery and its use.

Machinery that does not meet these requirements cannot be supplied into or within EEA countries.

There are several European Directives that can apply to the safety of industrial machinery and equipment but the two that are of the most direct relevance are:

1.	The Machinery Directive
2.	The Use of Work Equipment by Workers at Work Directive

These two Directives are directly related as the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) from the Machinery Directive can be used to confirm the safety of equipment in the Use of Work Equipment Directive.

This section deals with aspects of both directives and it is strongly recommended that anyone concerned with the design, supply, purchase or use of industrial equipment within or into the EEA and also certain other European countries should familiarize themselves with their requirements. Most suppliers and users of machinery will simply not be allowed to supply or operate machinery in these countries unless they conform to these directives.

There are other European Directives with relevance to industrial safety. Most of them are fairly specialized in their application and are therefore left outside the scope of this section but it is important to note that, where relevant, their requirements must also be met. Examples are: The Low Voltage Directive—The ATEX Directive.