Article 1.3. PROTECTION AGAINST MECHANICAL HAZARDS - annex 1 of machinery directive 2006/42/EC

The text in RED color is the amended or added text in comparison with the former 98/37/EC machinery directive

​1.3. PROTECTION AGAINST MECHANICAL HAZARDS

Comment:

Requirements for protective measures against mechanical risks have changed little since the nature of these risks is "under control". Some paragraphs have been reformulated without big changes.

The only new requirements and modifications related to align with the state of standardization, and taking into account the full life cycle of the machine and the identification of risks in the risk analysis for all phases of life of the machine.

Original Comment:

Les exigences relatives aux mesures de protection contre les risques mécaniques ont peu évolué car la nature de ces risques est « maîtrisée ». Certains alinéas ont été reformulés mais sans grande modifications sur le fond.

Les seules nouvelles exigences et modifications ont consisté à se mettre en adéquation avec l’état de la normalisation, et la prise en compte du cycle de vie complet de la machine et de l’identification des risques dans l’analyse de risque pour toutes les phases de vie de la machine.

1.3.1. Risk of loss of stability

Machinery and its components and fittings must be stable enough to avoid overturning, falling or uncontrolled movements during transportation, assembly, dismantling and any other action involving the machinery.

If the shape of the machinery itself or its intended installation does not offer sufficient stability, appropriate means of anchorage must be incorporated and indicated in the instructions.

1.3.2. Risk of break-up during operation

The various parts of machinery and their linkages must be able to withstand the stresses to which they are subject when used.

The durability of the materials used must be adequate for the nature of the working environment foreseen by the manufacturer or his authorised representative, in particular as regards the phenomena of fatigue, ageing, corrosion and abrasion.

The instructions must indicate the type and frequency of inspections and maintenance required for safety reasons. They must, where appropriate, indicate the parts subject to wear and the criteria for replacement.

Where a risk of rupture or disintegration remains despite the measures taken, the parts concerned must be mounted, positioned and/or guarded in such a way that any fragments will be contained, preventing hazardous situations.

Both rigid and flexible pipes carrying fluids, particularly those under high pressure, must be able to withstand the foreseen internal and external stresses and must be firmly attached and/or protected to ensure that no risk is posed by a rupture.

Where the material to be processed is fed to the tool automatically, the following conditions must be fulfilled to avoid risks to persons:

- when the workpiece comes into contact with the tool, the latter must have attained its normal working condition,

- when the tool starts and/or stops (intentionally or accidentally), the feed movement and the tool movement must be coordinated.

1.3.3. Risks due to falling or ejected objects

Precautions must be taken to prevent risks from falling or ejected objects.

1.3.4. Risks due to surfaces, edges or angles

Insofar as their purpose allows, accessible parts of the machinery must have no sharp edges, no sharp angles and no rough surfaces likely to cause injury.

1.3.5. Risks related to combined machinery

Where the machinery is intended to carry out several different operations with manual removal of the piece between each operation (combined machinery), it must be designed and constructed in such a way as to enable each element to be used separately without the other elements constituting a risk for exposed persons.

For this purpose, it must be possible to start and stop separately any elements that are not protected.

1.3.6. Risks related to variations in operating conditions

Where the machinery performs operations under different conditions of use, it must be designed and constructed in such a way that selection and adjustment of these conditions can be carried out safely and reliably.

Comment:

The text of the former Directive 98/37/EC "1.3.6. Risks due to changes in speed tools " was limited to risks due only to fluctuations of tools speed. This requirement is now extended to the whole machine.

Original Comment:

Le texte de l’ancienne directive 98/37/CE « 1.3.6. Risques dus aux variations de vitesse de rotation des outils » limitait les risques dûs aux variations à la seule vitesse de rotation des outils. Cette exigence est désormais étendue à l’ensemble de la machine.

1.3.7. Risks related to moving parts

The moving parts of machinery must be designed and constructed in such a way as to prevent risks of contact which could lead to accidents or must, where risks persist, be fitted with guards or protective devices.

All necessary steps must be taken to prevent accidental blockage of moving parts involved in the work. In cases where, despite the precautions taken, a blockage is likely to occur, the necessary specific protective devices and tools must, when appropriate,  be provided to enable the equipment to be safely unblocked.

The instructions and, where possible,  a sign on the machinery shall identify these specific protective devices and how they are to be used.

Comment:

Few changes for this article, only a additional requirement that must be present in the instructions.

Original Comment:

Peu de changements pour cet article, si ce n’est une exigence complémentaire à faire figurer dans la notice d’instructions.

1.3.8. Choice of protection against risks arising from moving parts

Guards or protective devices designed to protect against risks arising from moving parts must be selected on the basis of the type of risk. The following guidelines must be used to help to make the choice.

Comment:

In the new Machinery Directive, the risk must be "assessed" through the risk analysis. The new Machinery Directive introduces the requirement of movable guards with locking device that combines mobile guards (with locking device) type A (guard without locking device) and type B (guards associated with a inter locking device) of the former machinery Directive 98/37/EC.

To this point related to protective guards refer to harmonized standards dealing with this subject.

The body of chapters 1.3.8.1 and 1.3.8.2 was lifted of all the examples contained in the old Directive 98/37/EC. The text has been redesigned in order to align the definitions of protectors that were mentionned in Directive with those mentionned in EN 12100-1.

Original Comment:

Dans la nouvelle directive machines, le risque doit être « évalué » via l’analyse de risque. La nouvelle directive machine introduit l’exigence de protecteurs mobiles avec dispositif de verrouillage qui fusionne les protecteurs mobiles (avec dispositifs de verrouillage) de type A (protecteur avec dispositif de verrouillage sans blocage) et de type B (protecteur associé à un dispositif d’inter verrouillage) de l’ancienne directive machines 98/37/CE.

Pour ce point lié aux protecteurs reportez vous aux normes harmonisées traitant de ce sujet.

Le corps des chapitres 1.3.8.1 et 1.3.8.2 a été « allégé » de tous les exemples qui figuraient dans l’ancienne directive 98/37/CE. Le texte a été remodelé afin de mettre en adéquation les définitions des protecteurs figurant dans la directive avec celles de la norme EN 12100-1.

1.3.8.1. Moving transmission parts

Guards designed to protect persons against the hazards generated by moving transmission parts must be:

- either fixed guards as referred to in section 1.4.2.1, or

- interlocking movable guards as referred to in section 1.4.2.2.

Interlocking movable guards should be used where frequent access is envisaged.

1.3.8.2. Moving parts involved in the process

Guards or protective devices designed to protect persons against the hazards generated by moving parts involved in the process must be:

- either fixed guards as referred to in section 1.4.2.1, or

- interlocking movable guards as referred to in section 1.4.2.2, or

- protective devices as referred to in section 1.4.3, or

- a combination of the above.

However, when certain moving parts directly involved in the process cannot be made completely inaccessible during operation owing to operations requiring operator intervention, such parts must be fitted with:

- fixed guards or interlocking movable guards preventing access to those sections of the parts that are not used in the work, and

- adjustable guards as referred to in section 1.4.2.3 restricting access to those sections of the moving parts where access is necessary.

1.3.9. Risks of uncontrolled movements

When a part of the machinery has been stopped, any drift away from the stopping position, for whatever reason other than action on the control devices, must be prevented or must be such that it does not present a hazard.

Comment:

New requirement that now applies to all machines and whose objective is to remove un-controlled movements such as eg automatic restart.

Original Comment:

Nouvelle exigence qui s’applique désormais à toutes les machines et qui a pour objectif de supprimer les mouvements non-commandés tels que par exemple le redémarrage intempestif.