Major changes to the machinery directive will put even greater health and safety responsibility on those declaring compliance - and heavy penalties for those that fail to meet them, says Laidler Associates, which has put together a series of training seminars to help affected companies.
The new directive 2006/42/EC shows significant modifications from the existing 98/37/EC, and was introduced into UK legislation at the end of June 2008 - coming fully into force on 29th December 2009.
Now, CE marking specialist Laidler has put together free seminars to cover the requirements that all UK manufacturers and suppliers of new machinery make sure that the machinery that they supply is safe. Manufacturers must also make sure that machinery meets the relevant health and safety requirements including the provision of sufficient instructions with the product. A technical file for the machinery has to be supplied and in certain cases, proof that the machinery has been type-examined by a notified body.
Other requirements include a 'declaration of conformity' (or in some cases a 'declaration of incorporation'), which should be issued with the machinery, and CE marking to be affixed to the machinery (unless it comes with a declaration of incorporation).
To underline the importance of the new directive, the European Commission has said that penalties for non-compliance should be ‘effective and dissuasive’. In the UK this means:
- Summary Conviction - £20,000 and/or three months’ imprisonment
- Conviction on Indictment - £20,000 and/or two years’ imprisonment
Additionally, the name and address of the person who compiled the technical file has to be recorded on the declaration of conformity.
Any OEM or volume manufacturer or company involved with a project that runs into 2010 must apply the changes to the directive now. The existing directive will be repealed on the 29th December 2009 so now really is the time to take the issue seriously.
Provisional details for the Laidler seminars are: High Wycombe (25/11), Coventry (26/11), Leeds (27/11), Scotland (02/12), and Birmingham (04/12). To book a place, contact Laidler Associates on enquire@laidler.co.uk or go to www.laidler.co.uk