COVER STORY
Is machinery safety system design keeping up with automation complexity?
T
he adoption of automation in factories has been on the rise recently, as manufacturers seek to improve effi ciency, reduce
costs and increase productivity. However, while being advantageous for production this adoption has possible consequences for the general operations within a facility.
Overall, the increased use of complex automation solutions in modern factories has led to a growing need for sophisticated safety solutions. These solutions need to be designed to prevent accidents while allowing for effi cient interaction between operators and machines, and the growing use of cobots is only adding to the complexity of the safety challenge. So where should you start? Equipment designers must undertake a full risk assessment to BS EN ISO 12100:2010
12 May 2023 | Automation
before starting the design of the safety- related control system for any machinery. The purpose of the risk assessment is to identify potential hazards associated with the machinery and determine the necessary safety measures to reduce or eliminate these hazards. This includes normal operation as well as the maintenance and setting up of the equipment.
BS EN ISO 12100:2010 provides a systematic approach for conducting a risk assessment and helps designers identify any potential hazards associated with the machinery. Additionally, the safety-related control system design should comply with the BS EN ISO 13849-1:2023 standard, which specifi es the requirements and procedures for the safety-related parts of the control system. This standard provides the guidelines for the design, implementation and
validation of safety-related control systems, ensuring that they are designed to the required safety level – you wouldn’t expect to see a washing- machine door switch used on the access door of a robot palletising cell. Neglecting to undertake a full risk assessment and not considering BS EN ISO 13849-1:2015 could result in safety- related failures and hazards to the operators, leading to injuries or even fatalities. Therefore, it is essential for equipment designers to follow these standards to ensure the safe operation of machinery.
What about cobots? While collaborative robots, or cobots, are designed to work alongside human workers, they still require a thorough risk assessment before being put into use. Many engineers may assume
automationmagazine.co.uk
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