11 September 2009

Thinking of buying a new machine? Have you thought of all the safety issues?

It is all too common for organisations to purchase equipment that does not always meet their expectations and may not be as safe as one thinks, or misled into believing the machine is totally safe because it displays a CE mark!

Before buying new machinery have you considered the following?

The following points are simple discussion points that you should cover with the supplier prior to purchasing the equipment by informing the supplier where the machine will be used, what you are wanting to achieve from it and who will be using it, particularly if it is a complex or custom-built machine. Ask the supplier the following key points:

•  What health and safety risks might there be when setting, operating and maintaining the machine? Are there any dangerous moving parts and if so what guards will be provided? Will the guards be interlocked and the number of emergency stop controls to be fitted?
• Can the machine power be easily isolated when carrying out repairs, etc? Also, when the machine has been isolated, does any part of the machine components store positive energy that could pose a risk when being worked upon such as hydraulic or pneumatics mechanisms?
• Will dust, fumes or vapours be present during normal operation? If these are likely to be in significant quantities, will the system be equipped with a suitable Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system or can your existing extraction system be adapted to cope with the new machine?
• Has the machinery been designed to minimise the noise and vibration levels it produces?
• Are there any extremely hot or very cold parts of the machine, and can they be insulated or protected?
• Are there any lasers or thickness gauges, and can any exposure to radiation be eliminated? If not, what precautions are there to stop any radiation risk?
• What has been done to eliminate the risk of electric shock, particularly during maintenance work, when covers or control panel doors may be open?
• Will there be clear information about installation, maintenance and breakdown procedures?
• Will you, and how will you inform me if problems arise with similar machines bought by other clients?

The above are just a few key points that the responsible person should check prior to purchasing. Additionally to this you will be required to undertake a specific risk assessment on the safe use, setting and maintenance of the machine, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.