EC MASCHINERY DIRECTIVE
"The manufacturer is obliged to carry out a hazard analysis in order to identify
all hazards relating to his machine; he must then design and construct the
machine taking his analysis into account."
Every German manufacturer of
machinery is obliged to carry out a hazard analysis, according to the Machinery
Ordinance (9. GPSGV) taking into account RL 98/37/EG (Machinery Directive) and
the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health, in order to identify all
hazards connected with the machine.
The machine is then to be designed and
constructed on the basis of the analysis.
Evaluation of the identified risks
based upon DIN EN 1050 "Hazard analysis, risk assessment, description of
protective measures".
Like the classic construction and process FMEA, the
Failure Modes & Effects Analysis is a systematic, semi-quantitative risk
analysis method. Unlike the FMEA in its conventional form, the system FMEA is a
top-down method.
The possible errors are considered at the level of the
product and its possible effects on the Customer are assessed.
The FMEA has
proven to be an effective method for risk analysis and risk protection in
development and production.
Safety technology deals with the risks of modern industrial
society, to which people and their environment are exposed. It concentrates
especially upon these risks that are connected with the use of technology, the
operation of industrial equipment and the handling of materials.
The legal
regulations of safety technology are primarily for industrial safety, which is
to say safety and health protection at work, and protection of the environment.
Arrangements, safety of information and the protection of properties also often
come under safety technology. Safety technology is also used in the
interpretation of safeguarding against failure, operational safety and
availability as regards machinery and plant in industry.
It is important to
always make sure that all those involved agree upon the same interpretation of
the term safety technology.