Machine Safety Standards

Based on past experience, there are none!

I have retro fitted so many machines, switchboards etc to conform to UK standards and/or general safety/operator protection, I wonder who designed them.

Over the years I have retro fitted, cut out switches, safety guards, door interlocks, castle key assemblies, local electrical isolation, dead man handles or foot switches, warning lights, and the list goes on and on.

If this is a surprise or a revelation to you.. welcome to the international world of safety, where not everything is as it seems.

However, there is the UL standards, but that seems more to apply to individual components rather than a whole machine.

US safety standards come out of OSHA as Lyn replied.

www.osha.gov

Some states have their own agencies and standards responsible for worker safety, but are required to meet or exceed OSHA's.

Be prepared to buy some reference standards from non-government groups like RIA and ANSI because OSHA incorporates other agency standards by reference. Basically, I think OSHA takes the position that "if a standard exists pertaining to your specific situation then you should know about it and apply it".

Typically in the US, responsibility for machine safety is considered to be the end user's because that is who OSHA will cite and fine. That will not necessarily protect a machine builder from civil suits though.

Practically, what you are doing for CE and ISO is very nearly the same as required in the US, possibly more stringent in some areas.

OSHA takes the view if you know that there is the possibility of a hazard then you should take action to keep it from happening.

OSHA also classifies many safe, household chemicals as hazardous materials if used in the workplace.

This defies logic, as do many things government organizations do.

Most people take better care in the use of those chemicals in their own home then they do in the work place. Some could care less.

OSHA provides only a basic foundation for machine safety and many companies are adopting EU's Machinery Directive and EN 292-2:1991. It's much more detailed and it must be followed if any equipment is to be sold in the European market. Machine safety with control reliable circuitry and components has it's roots in Europe.

There may be newer standards but these are the ones I am aware of. Elroy

Thanks for all the replies gents.

I had a look at the link posted by Lyn, what a nightmare to navigate your way around that lot! I can see why people avoid them if at all possible.

Typically, we design our machines to our customer's safety specification/regime, and since, as JRivers syas, the onus is on the end user, this make a lot of sense.

Cheers,

Mark aka Paulus