Principles, Standards and Implementation

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Regulations

EU Directives and Legislation The EU Machinery Directive Essential Health and Safety Requirements The Machinery Directive—Conformity Assessment and Standards Technical File Conformity Assessment Notified Bodies
EC Declaration of Conformity Procedure EC Declaration of Incorporation for Partly Completed Machinery Machinery Supplied from Outside the EU—
Authorized Representatives		 The EU Use of Work Equipment Directive (U.W.E. Directive) U.S. Regulations Occupational Safety and Health Administration Canada Regulations
Essential Health and Safety Requirements

Annex 1 of the Directive gives a list of Essential Health and Safety Requirements (referred to as EHSRs) to which machinery must comply where relevant. The purpose of this list is to ensure that the machinery is safe and is designed and constructed so that it can be used, adjusted and maintained throughout all phases of its life without putting persons at risk. The following text provides a quick overview of some typical requirements but it is important to consider all of the EHSRs given in Annex 1.

A risk assessment must be carried out to determine which EHSRs are applicable to the equipment under consideration.

The EHSRs in Annex 1 provides a hierarchy of measures for eliminating the risk:

Click to enlarge - Principles_Figure 02 (EHSR)
 
Figure 2: Machine Must Meet EHSRs

(1) Inherently Safe Design—Where possible the design itself will prevent any hazards.

Where this is not possible (2) Additional Protective Measures, e.g., Guards with interlocked access points, non-material barriers such as light curtains, sensing mats etc., should be used.

Any residual risk which cannot be dealt with by the above methods must be contained by (3) Personal Protective Equipment and/or Training. The machine supplier must specify what is appropriate.

Suitable materials should be used for construction and operation. Adequate lighting and handling facilities should be provided. Controls and control systems must be safe and reliable. Machines must not be capable of starting up unexpectedly and should usually have one or more emergency stop devices fitted. Consideration

must be given to complex installations where processes upstream or downstream can affect the safety of a machine. Failure of a power supply or control circuit must not lead to a dangerous situation. Machines must be stable and capable of withstanding foreseeable stresses. They must have no exposed edges or surfaces likely to cause injury.

Guards or protection devices must be used to protect risks such as moving parts. These must be of robust construction and difficult to bypass. Fixed guards must be mounted by methods that can only be removed with tools. Movable guards should be interlocked. Adjustable guards should be readily adjustable without the use of tools.

Electrical and other energy supply hazards must be prevented. There must be minimal risk of injury from temperature, explosion, noise, vibration, dust, gases or radiation. There must be proper provisions for maintenance and servicing. Sufficient indication and warning devices must be provided. Machinery shall be provided with instructions for safe installation, use, adjustment etc.