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The new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC became applicable on 29 December 2009. Although it is broadly similar to its predecessor, there are significant differences. The following article provides guidance on the Machinery Directive - with a focus on the guarding issues - but Procter Machine Guarding has also published a free PDF guide that details the difference between the two Directives and provides information that will aid compliance.
Changes to the scope of the Directive relate to safety components (including some machine guards), construction site hoists, some lifts, and cartridge - operated fixing and other impact machines.
Whereas the old Directive referred to 'machinery which cannot function independently" the new Directive introduces and explains the concept of 'partly completed machinery.' Under the new Directive, partly completed machines require the relevant technical documentation, assembly instructions and a declaration of incorporation; however, such machinery does not have the CE mark applied.
One of the key changes in the new Directive is the liberation of the conformity assessment procedures for some types of machinery. If machinery is designed in accordance with the relevant harmonised standards, the new Directive gives manufactures the option to self-certify machinery. For other Annex IV machinery, manufactures can either request EC type-examination by a Notified Body or have a Notified Body approve a full quality assurance system covering design, manufacture, final inspection and testing.
Safety Components and Guards
The scope of the new Machinery Directive includes safety components, so there is a clear definition and Annex V provides an indicative list of the safety components. The definition could be interpreted broadly to include a wide variety of standard machine components that fulfill a safety function; conversely, safety components that are manufactured by the machinery manufacturer for use on the machinery are not subject to the Machinery Directive, though these components must enable the machinery to comply with the essential health and safety requirements.
In Chapter 1, 'Essential Health and Safety Requirement', a guard is defined as 'a part of the machinery used specifically to provide protection by means of a physical barrier.' Note, however, that this definition differs from that in the harmonised standard EN 953 (Safety of machinery. Guards. General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards). Moreover, interpreting the term 'specifically' from the Directive in order to relax the requirements relating to parts of the machine such as weatherproof covers and chutes would be incorrect, as they often provide protection, if only as a secondary function.
In the clauses relating to the required characteristics of guards and protective devices, there are some important changes. For example, sub-clause 1.4.2.1, 'Fixed guards', states that 'fixing systems must remain attached to the guards or machinery when the guards are removed.' Various types of captive suitable fastener are available, but machine builders need to strike the optimum balance between purchase cost, installation cost and ease of use.
Sub-clause 1.4.2.2, 'Interlocking movable guards', replaces Section 1.4.2.2 'Movable guards' of the old Directive. Whereas movable guards were previously divided into Type A and Type B guards, the new text refers to interlocking movable guards and movable guards used in association with a guard locking device and an interlocking device.
Annex V, 'Indicative list of the safety components referred to in Article 2(c)', is entirely new, though it includes some of the items from the old Annex IV (such as guards for removable mechanical transmission devices), plus various types of guard, valves, extraction systems, monitoring devices, restraint systems, energy limiters, noise/vibration reduction systems, and various lift components.
Further Information
Within the Guide to the New Machinery Directive published by Procter Machine Guarding there are references to further sources of useful information. These include: a link to the European Commission's website where readers can download a PDF of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC; a link to the EC's web page from where the official guidance (running to 335 pages) can be downloaded; a link to the UK's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), which has published guidance on The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008; a link to the ErgoMach website, from where ergonomics-related information Sheets can be downloaded; and a link to the EC's website from where the current list of Harmonised Standards can be downloaded.
Further Machinery Directive guidance, in the form of a PDF 'Guide to the New Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC', is available from the Free Machine Safety Guide section of the website or email
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Procter Machine Guarding has published a free guide to the New Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
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