AREA OF EXPERTISE

Risk Assessment

Legal obligation for manufacturers of technical products

Risk Assessment of machines, plants and electrical devices

Manufacturer of machines and plants, as well as manufacturers of electrical devices must  determine, which hazards and risks are associated with their products. This legal requirement can be found in different EU directives, such as:

  • Machinery Directive (MD) 2006/42/EC
  • Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
  • Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU
  • Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU
  • ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
  • ...

Risk Analysis: Voluntarily or prescribed by law?

Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230

It´s often assumed that performing a risk assessment is voluntary. The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 clarify in Annex I and Annex III respectively that the risk assessment is a mandatory requirement:

The manufacturer of machinery (…) must ensure that a risk assessment is carried out in order to determine the health and safety requirements which apply to the machinery. (2006/42/EC, Annex I)

The manufacturer of machinery or a related product shall ensure that a risk assessment is carried out in order to determine the essential health and safety requirements which apply to the machinery or related product. (2023/1230, Annex III)

Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU

The new Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU (LVD) also makes manufacturers fully responsible:

The manufacturer shall establish the technical documentation. (…) and shall include an adequate analysis and assessment of the risk(s).

Risk Assessment according to other guidelines

The guidelines of the so-called New Legislative Framework require the implementation of an appropriate risk analysis and assessment.

Strategy for risk assessment

Different terms such as risk analysis, risk evaluation or risk estimation are used in connection with risk assessments. These terms represent different steps in the process of risk assessment.              

The process of risk assessment for machines and systems is described in the international standard EN ISO 12100:

PROCESS STEPSdesignation
a) Define the limits of the machine, including its intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse;



Risk Analysis*

b) Identifying hazards and associated hazardous situations;
c) Assessing the risk for each identified hazard and hazardous situation;
d) Assessing the risk for each identified hazard and hazardous situation;Risk Evaluation*
e) Eliminating the hazard or reducing the risk associated with the hazard by means of protectives measures;

Risk Reduction

 

*The process steps Risk Analysis and Risk Evaluation together forms the Risk Assessment.

Tasks of designers and engineers

The risk reduction methods has to be fulfilled by designers in a fixed order. This legally prescribed sequence can be found in the Machinery Directive and Machinery Regulation as well as in EN ISO 12100. CENELEC Guide 32 offers corresponding information for products according to the Low Voltage Directive. The different documents only differ in terminology:

 

EN ISO 12100MACHINERY Directive 2006/42/ECMachinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230CENELEC GUIDE 32
Inherently safe designinherently safe machinery design and constructioninherently safe machinery or related product design and constructionIntrinsic safety measures
Technical protective measures and / or additional protectives measurestake the necessary protective measures in relation to risks that cannot be eliminatedtake the necessary protective measures in relation to risks that cannot be eliminatedTechnical protective measures and additional protectives measures
User informationinform users (…)inform users (…)User information

Common mistakes in practice

The legally required integration of safety into design / construction processes is not observed. Risk assessments are carried out too late or not at all!

Risk assessments are made too late

Risk assessments are carried out by one (1) person after the machine has been built, if at all. This procedure does not meet the legal requirements, but usually costs a lot of money! Every person involved in the product development process is obliged to participate in the risk assessment as part of their activities. Hazards are identified early on and suitable measures are defined immediately. Eliminating hazards at the time of commissioning or in operation can be very expensive!

The CE coordinator does it (must do it)

All persons involved in the development processes rely on a CE representative or CE coordinator who is not provided for by law. These people can coordinate, organize or support, but are not responsible for the operational implementation of risk assessments in projects!

Expensive protective devices instead of inherently safe designs

The cost-saving inherently safe designs are not used. Instead, expensive protective devices are installed that would not be necessary in this form for the identified hazards and the assessed risk. A qualitative risk assessment can help to avoid unnecessary and cost intense safety measures!

Indications of residual hazards instead of technical solutions

Notes on residual hazards in the operating instructions are chosen instead of technical solutions. Numerous judgments show that compliance with the order required by law is particularly important in order to avoid liability cases.

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