HSL can now provide advice via our Machinery Safety Clinic as
part of our mission to enable a better working
Britain. We work closely with HSE to investigate incidents
involving many types of equipment, including machinery of all
types. These detailed investigations almost always reveal
several contributory causes - usually including inadequacies in
safety-related design of the equipment involved.
In addition to our expertise in safety of machinery, we can also
draw from the vast wealth of expertise available from our
engineers and scientists, employed at our site in Buxton.
Background
There are regulations regarding the supply of machinery;
primarily The
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and also The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
1998, both of which fall under the Health
and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These regulations place
an obligation on designers, manufacturers, people who specify,
modify and even provide machinery for use to ensure it achieves
adequate safety. The subject as a whole can be termed 'Safety
of Machinery', which covers the regulatory aspects and also the
normative requirements contained in several hundred
European standards and design risk assessment of all the
hazards that machinery can exhibit. Although many of these
aspects are understood by responsible parties, it is often
beneficial, in terms of both cost and quality, to seek advice from
an independent expert.
At HSL, in addition to our expertise in safety of machinery, we
can also draw from the vast wealth of expertise available
from our engineers and scientists, employed at our site in
Buxton.
How the Machinery Safety Clinic Operates:
- The client books an appointment
- The client sends details of enquiry along with supporting
information
- The consultant studies information received in preparation
(nominally for half an hour per appointment)
- The consultant and client meet to discuss issues. Each
appointment lasts one hour.
Obviously, the amount of assistance required will depend on the
complexity of the enquiry and more than one appointment may be
necessary. Should it become apparent that a more
comprehensive job is required, we would obviously be happy to
provide a specific proposal.
Clients can arrange an appointment by
calling 01298 218806 or
emailing machinerysafetyclinic@hsl.gov.uk
HSL also provide a number of
training courses on the subject of machinery safety.
N.B. HSL cannot endorse or ratify particular equipment, designs
or features.The links below provide more information on the
subject of safety of machinery, relevant regulations and standards
etc.
Useful Links
European Union website on the Machinery
Directive
Relevant page from the European Committee for Standardisation -
CEN
Relevant page from the BSI
Department for Business Innovation and Skills page on the
Machinery Directive
Sources of independent advice