Risk assessment according to the Machinery Directive
The topic Product Safety includes a large number of legal regulations that govern the safety requirements of technical equipment and consumer products in Germany and the European Internal Market. In compliance with the complex nature of the legal situation and the number of machinery directives, laws and standards in question, both at European and national level, reinisch GmbH performs a qualified risk assessment for manufacturers of products, machines and plants.
A preliminary, extensive research of the relevant standards and guidelines is the basis for ensuring CE compliance and thus liability security. Within the consulting services in the field of product safety, reinisch GmbH also supports its customer with workplace risk assessment. In addition to its main locations in Karlsruhe and Hanover, reinisch GmbH is represented throughout Germany, and thus right on your doorstep.
Assessment according to the Machinery Directive
reinisch GmbH supports manufacturers in order to assist them with the risk assessment required by the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Any machinery placed on the European market must comply with the specifications of this Directive.
During the design process, one of the key prerequisites is to perform a risk assessment to determine the health and safety requirements that apply to the machine in question. The results of this assessment must be taken into account during the design phase.
The targets of the assessment design process for machines include:
- Identification and estimation of the severity of the hazards which could originate from the machine
- Elimination or mitigation of these hazards during the design process
- Taking or establishing protective measures against residual risks
- Warning user of residual risks in the technical documentation
As the methods and procedures used for risk assessment according to the Machinery Directive can become very complex and complicated, it is recommended to rely on the services of an experienced specialist to ensure the legal certainty of the process. As a reliable partner for professional assessment, reinisch GmbH assists companies with a comprehensive analysis and evaluation followed by the development of recommendations for risk mitigation.
The risk assessment is the basic tenet of a liability-proof documentation.
Law requires risk assessment
The regulations of the European Machinery Directive have to be transposed into national law by each member state. In Germany, this has been implemented in the form of the ninth Ordinance to the Product Safety Act (ProdSV) – in short: ninth ProdSV. This Machinery Ordinance does not explicitly require a risk assessment, but rather a conformity assessment procedure. However, the identification and estimation of the risks associated with a machine represent the basis of such a conformity assessment and is therefore the prerequisite for the CE marking. The preparation of a assessment is therefore required by law. It is not a voluntary service of the manufacturer. Furthermore, it serves as an indispensable basis for liability-proof documentation. For this purpose, reinisch GmbH is the competent partner.
