As a trusted UK and global steel fabrication specialist company who serve clients globally, we bring decades of experience in designing, fabricating and installation of machine guards. Our mission is simple, we want to help businesses comply with safety regulations such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) and to construct safer workplaces for staff members with tailored safety solutions that will stand the test of time.
This comprehensive guide will explore key machinery safety standards, machine guarding principles, ISO norms and both British and European regulations.
Why Machine Safety Matters
As an employer you should consider the safety of your workforce and how they use machinery as well as having a structured maintenance routine plan in place to ensure that all machinery is kept to a high functioning standard. Below we have listed the key points as to why machine safety should be considered as a pivotal moving part of your business;
- Protecting employees from moving machine parts is key when preventing injuries. Well-designed machine guards are the first line of defence that can be incorporated into the working environment.
- Compliance with regulations such as PUWER in the UK which all companies need to legally abide by. You can read further on the Health and Safety Executive website here. By being compliant, it not only increases the safety of staff members but also protects your business from any legal risk and potential downtime that will cost time and money.
- Investing in safety measures, equipment that lasts and is efficient increases productivity and machine longevity which directly relates to more output on the shop floor.
In working environments such as steel fabrication there are numerous moving machines which injuries can be caused by:
- Ejected material from machines such as swarf
- Sharp edges of materials and machines can increase the likelihood of cuts and wounds that can puncture the skin
- Electricity used to power the machines can cause electrical shocks and burns if correct assessments are not carried out.
The chances of these injuries can always occur and as an employer you need to ensure you have preventative measures in place to increase the safety of everyone using the machine or near the machine. If machines start to develop faults or are used with improper use, these are when such injuries can start to occur.
Managing And Preventing Risks
It might sound simple but before any machine is used in the workplace, an assessment of risks that could arise has to be carried out and then how these can be managed. There has to be considerable ‘safeguarding’ to ensure that all machines have all the necessary machine safety protocols in place and are safe to use.
The HSE states that by law, all suppliers must inform any risks that they were unable to be designed out. Therefore, users of the machines need to be aware of these and manage them as best as they can.
Key Machine Safety Standards
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98)
In the United Kingdom, PUWER 98 is a legal obligation for all businesses that supply or use machine equipment and requires that all machinery is:
- Suitable for its intended purpose
- Inspected regularly with routine maintenance checks and risk assessments
- Only to be used by individuals who are trained correctly and have the appropriate controls in place
- ISO Machinery Safety Standards
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an independent organisation that publishes voluntary standards that ensures systems are safe and reliable. ISO has released the below standards that will not only reflect high professionalism if your company can reflect and obtain these standards but ensures that you are placing safety as one of your highest priorities.
- ISO 12100:2010 – defines general principles, risk assessment and risk reduction for machinery design
- ISO 13849:2023 – Governs safety related parts of control systems which focuses on design and integration of safety functions.
- British & European Standards (BS EN ISO)
The British & European Standards (BS EN ISO) is a standard which has been adopted as a British Standard and being an ISO and EN standard. It is defined as a British standard that aligns with both European and International standards.
Some of the key versions are labelled below that may help you or your business try comply with:
- BS EN ISO 12100:2010 – Safety of machinery
- BS EN ISO 14120:2015 – General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and moveable guards
- BS EN ISO 14122-1 to 4:2016 – Safe access
6 Essential Machine Safety Guidelines for Operators
- Understand and comply with PUWER 98
- Perform risk assessments – utilise ISO 12100 to processes to identify hazards and help choose safeguarding measures
- Install secure guarding – both fixed and adjustable guards which we are compliant with BS EN ISO 14120
- Design safe access systems
- Integrate safety control systems
- Continuous maintenance and inspection – always log and date inspections and document deterioration of machinery. Always ensure training is regularly carried out.
Workplace Environment Guidelines For Machine Safety
Machine safety is just not located by technical compliance but having an appropriate and safe workplace environment is critical to keep employers safe around machinery and we believe at Broadbent FabGuard all employers should do their best to carry out the following best practices:
- Keep workspaces clear and organised
- Ensure all floors and aisles are free from any potential obstructions
- Allow for appropriate lighting around all working machinery
- Put in place colour-coded floor marking to highlight potential hazard areas
- Provide safe access
- Provide safety guard rails, steps and secure platform that are compliant with BS EN ISO 14122 for employees to be able to move around the working environment safely
- Place machinery in positions in safe and secure areas
- Routine training
- Provide regular training for operators of machinery and include machine safety and emergency procedure modules
- Document all training records to ensure that only authorised staff use dedicated machinery
- Being prepared for emergencies
- Incorporate all emergency stops are clearly marked
- Carry out regular safety fire drill or mechanical emergency tests
- Place signage with clear evacuation and first-aid instruction throughout the working environment
- Consistent housekeeping
- Have in place a planned preventative maintenance schedule
- Carry out routine lubrication, cleaning and inspection of all machinery and have everything documented
- Identify and address any hazards such as oil spills or sharp metals as soon as possible
- Ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and used
- Enforce all machine operators to where safety equipment such as glasses, steel-toe boots and hearing protection
- Review PPE requirements as machinery or processes change
