3 August 2009

Hand Fed Platen Presses

You may or may not be aware that the industry has experienced a number of fatalities over the last two years involving employees operating medium to large Hand Fed Platen Presses.

The ISO standards EN1010 part 5 is in the process of a major review to ensure that safety devices are improved during the production of new machines and also older ones with the use of retro fit kits. However, as you can appreciate, this all takes time.

Therefore, the regulator, being the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is looking to action now and has submitted a ‘Safeguard Action' notice to the European commission setting out its concerns. Once accepted, this will allow the UK to ask for higher standards of safety than the current standards required in specific areas, without the HSE's incurring infraction proceedings.

For those BPIF members who own and/or are responsible for the operatives of Hand Fed Platen Presses, which range from medium to large in size (2 - 3 metres plus in width), please can you contact the BPIF Head of Health and Safety, Simon Lunken, by Friday 28 August 2009 to discuss this issue and the proposed restrictions that may be imposed by the regulator in the very near future.