MACHINE SAFETY
SUPPLY OF MACHINERY (SAFETY) REGULATIONS F
rom a practical perspective, two years on from Brexit very little has changed. The UK standards currently remain the same as European Union (EU) harmonised standards, as they were simply carried across as UK designated standards in order to maintain a single model.
Since 1995 it has been a requirement that all machines supplied within the European Economic Area (EEA) comply with the Machinery Directive. For the UK market, the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 continues to be in alignment with the EU’s Machinery Directive. The regulations apply to both machinery and safety components which are manufactured or sold and operated in the UK on or after 29th December 2009. The 1995 regulations apply to anything before that date. Before machinery, and other products in the Regulations’ scope, are placed on the market or put into service for the first time they must be designed and constructed to be safe. They must also have a technical file compiled and have appropriate conformity markings, including the correct labelling with either the UKCA or CE mark. Under the new regime UKCA will be the marking applied under the regulation and CE will continue to be the marking applied under the Directive. Such equipment must also be supplied with comprehensive instructions
in English, or assembly instructions in the case of partly completed machinery. They must also be accompanied by a Declaration of Conformity or a Declaration of Incorporation for partly completed machinery.
The following persons or companies are responsible for compliance with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations: * Machine builders. * Assemblers of machine parts or installations. * Manufacturers of special-purpose tools, skids and rigs. * Machinery importers located in the UK. * Machinery distributors or dealers that buy from a UK-based manufacturer or importer have the obligation to verify that the conformity assessment was performed and that the necessary documentation and information is available.
Relevant machinery under the regulations includes assemblies of machinery, components and interchangeable equipment: * An assembly fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system other than directly applied manual or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or * Components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application.
* Machinery referred to in 1 missing only the components to connect it on site or to sources of energy and motion. * Lifting apparatus whose only power source is directly applied manual effort. * An assembly of machines and / or partly completed machinery which, in order to achieve the same end are arranged and controlled to function as an integral whole. * Interchangeable equipment - a device which, after placing into service with machinery or tractor, is assembled with that machinery or tractor by the operator himself in order to change its function.
UK regulations define a responsible person as one who holds a position of sufficient responsibility to ensure machinery safety. However, they do not have to be an expert as they are allowed to seek appropriate advice. The responsible person must ensure that all the necessary research and tests are conducted so that machinery can be assembled and put into service safely. The responsible person must also ensure that the applicable essential health and safety requirements (EHSR) are satisfied. These are wide ranging, taking into account potential dangers to operators and other persons who may be at risk. A typical example of an EHSR is the requirement
24 MARCH 2022 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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