Safety standards

In the following we have compiled some information and resources in reference to the machinery directive, important standards, machine or personal safety, and CE mark.

Legal text of the new machinery directive

Contrary to the definition of “directive”, the machinery directive is not a type of guideline, but rather an EU law. This means that the use of the machinery directive is mandatory for starting up machines within EU member states. The reason for updating the machinery directive was work accidents during operation of machines that could have been avoided by appropriate safety measures. One of the most important new items is the required risk analysis, even for “partly completed machinery”, with compliance to the correspondingly relevant standards. The new machinery directive 2006/42/EC

List of harmonized standards to the new machinery directive

In the scope of the new machinery directive 2006/42/EC, the harmonized machine standards were also revised. The European Commission published a first standard list for the new machinery directive in the Official Journal of the EU. List of harmonized standards

Consulting sites for questions regarding machine safety

The following institutions offer manufacturer-independent consultation or training regarding questions about the new machinery directive, standards, machine safety and CE mark:

TÜV Süd

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA)

Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardization (KAN)

Other sources on the topic of machinery directive, standards, personnel safety and safety engineering

Guide to application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC Application guide, 1st Edition

Application of EN ISO 13849: Safety-related parts of control systems BGIA-Report - Functional safety of machine controls

Information on machine guarding standards OSHA - Machine Guarding