| BS EN ISO 12100 - the new standard for machinery safety |
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By Pilz Automation Technology| BS EN ISO 12100 - the new standard for machinery safety |
specifications), dated November 2003. Yes, the titles of the new standards are almost identical to those of the old standards, and most of the content is very similar. There are, however, some differences that are worth noting.
For both parts of the standard, it is interesting that the scope now refers only to designers, rather than 'designers, manufacturers and other interested bodies'. This is clearly a shift of emphasis and implies a greater responsibility for designers of machinery. Another move is towards a more risk-based approach; for example, Section 5 of Part 1 has been renamed 'Strategy for risk reduction' rather than 'Strategy for selecting safety measures.'
Section 3 of Part 1 contains around 60 terms and definitions, which is a substantial increase over the old standard despite the fact that some terms and definitions have been deleted. Furthermore, throughout Section 3 as well as elsewhere in the standard, there are numerous references to other standards; this is an improvement over BS EN 292-1 and is extremely useful as it helps to remove ambiguity, pointing the reader in exactly the right direction for further reading.
Section 4 (Hazards to be taken into account when designing machinery) is similar to its counterpart in the old standard, though it now incorporates the additional hazards that were previously contained in Section 6. For machine designers, Section 4 represents a fairly comprehensive checklist of hazards, even extending as far as slips/trips/falls and hazards associated with the environment in which the machine is used.
An important principle contained in section 5 is that protective measures are a combination of measures taken by the designer and the user. However, it is preferable by far to use measures taken by the designer and the designer is expected to have an input into the safety measures taken by the user. Designers must also take into account the safety of the machinery during all phases of its lifecycle.
Section 5.3 refers to risk assessment and states 'the designer shall estimate the risk for each hazard, as far as possible on the basis of quantifiable factors, and finally decide if risk reduction is required as a result of the risk evaluation.'
Having identified and evaluated the risks, the designer must eliminate or reduce them by protective measures. The standard refers to the 'three-step method': Step 1: Inherently safe design measures Step 2: Safeguarding and complementary protective measures Step 3: Information for use (eg warning signs on the machine, instructions in the handbook).
Note that for each of these three steps there is a cross-reference to Part 2 of the standard, where more information can be found.
BS EN ISO 12100 Part 2 is certainly similar to BS EN 292 Part 2, but there is a considerable amount of information relating to inherently safe design measures and the benefits these offer.
Throughout Part 2 there are references to other standards and plenty of examples of ways in which the requirements of the standard could be met. Another useful feature is a flowchart to help in selecting the correct type of safeguards.
Two areas in the new standard where there is more detail than the old standard relate to 'inherently safe design measures for control systems' and 'minimising the probability of safety function failures.' These two are both contained in the new Section 4 that is broadly similar to the old Section 3.
The new Section 5 (Safeguarding and complementary protective measures) is also similar to the old Section 4, though there is more detail for topics such as sensitive protective equipment. In addition, other sub-sections (such as 5.5.2 that refers to the emergency stop function) have been incorporated within Section 5 whereas they were previously contained in Section 6, which has no equivalent in the new standard.
Section 6 of the new standard (Information for use) is very similar to the old Section 5.
All companies manufacturing machinery should ensure that they keep up to date with the latest standards. In a recent development, Pilz has been appointed a distributor for BSI publications, so the standard can be purchased directly from Pilz.
To purchase copies of BS EN ISO 12100 Parts 1 and 2, contact Pilz. Pilz consultants and engineers can also assist with interpreting and implementing the requirements laid down in these and any other machinery safety standards. E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out more about this.
