Health & Safety
Machine safety change
Paul Laidler of safety and compliance consultants, Laidler Associates
discusses the major aspects of the new European Machinery Directive,
which came into force on the 29th December
At the stroke of midnight on 28th machine screws and bolts, for example, can no longer be used
December 2009, a new as a means of attaching guards unless provisions is made for
European Machinery Directive, them to be held captive when the guard is removed.
officially designated 2006/42/EC, Even more interesting is the final requirement of Section
came into force. All machinery 1.4.2.1, which states that, wherever possible, guards must be
supplied in the EU from 29th incapable of remaining in position when their fixings have been
December onward must comply removed. This is likely to mean quite a few changes to existing
with the new European designs to ensure that, for example, hinged guards open
Machinery Directive and it automatically when they are released.
introduces many changes. It’s not just the machinery itself that receives attention in the
The changes that are likely to new EHSRs and that safety and health professionals need to be
ABOVE: Paul Laidler
be of particular interest are aware of. There are also important stipulations relating to the
those that concern the Essential instructions supplied with the machinery. According to Section
Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) embodied in the 1.7.4, machines must be accompanied by instructions in an
directive. Many of these relate to operator controls, such as the official community language not necessarily the language of the
new recommendation in Section 1.2.2 that pictograms should member state in which it is being placed on the market. There is
be used to identify manual controls as an aid to making sure no legal requirement to supply the instructions in the language
that they are clearly visible and identifiable. of the country of the end user, so it is possible to receive a
A more far-reaching change, however, is embodied in Section manual which you can’t read. Alongside the manuals, any
1.2.3 which initially states that it must only be possible to start software, diagrams or controls, might also not be in your
machinery by using a manual control provided for that purpose. preferred language.
This section now goes on, however, to allow restarting by If these instructions are supplied in the language in which they
devices other than manual controls, provided that this doesn’t were originally written, they must be marked “Original
lead to a dangerous situation. Instructions”. If, however, they are a translation, they must be
This is clearly an important provision for modern production marked “Translation of Original Instructions” and they must be
plant where automatic restarting can help to improve plant accompanied by a copy of the instructions in their original
availability and efficiency. Nevertheless, as the EHSR makes language.
clear, the safety implications of automatic restarting must always The only exception permitted is for maintenance instructions
be fully and carefully evaluated. that are intended only for use by specialised personnel. These
Guarding is another issue that receives specific attention in the need only be supplied in the language understood by those
ESHRs of the new directive. Section 1.4.2.1 requires that all specialised personnel.
fixed guards must be removable only with the aid of tools. What The EHSRs are, of course, not the only things that have
is new, however, is that the fixing systems must now remain changed with the introduction of the new machinery directive.
attached to the guards when the guards are removed – ordinary There are also significant revisions to the requirements
relating to the Declaration of Conformity. This must now
include the name and address of the person who is authorised
to compile the technical file, who must be established in the
European Community.
There must also be an explicit statement that the equipment
complies with all of the relevant provisions of the Machinery
Directive, together with details of its conformity with other
directives. All of the references have to be to documents that
have been published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
The scope of the directive has also been extended to include,
for example, lifting accessories, chains, ropes and webbings, but
there’s another change that is likely to have effects that are even
more far reaching – the new directive no longer concentrates on
just one item of equipment at a time.
46 Solids & Bulk Handling February 2010 www.solidsandbulk.co.uk
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