Machinery Directive | 2006/42/EC replaces 98/37/EC 29/12/09

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:09 pm

As many of you will already be aware, the Machinery Directive (98/37/EC) is being replaced by a new Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) - taking effect from 29 December 2009. The changes in this directive will take immediate effect for any who supply or manufacture machinery into the European Economic Area (EEA).

The machinery directive has been implemented into UK law by the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (2008:1597), available at the link below:
The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20081597_en_1)

Machinery that has already entered the EEA supply chain, or enters the supply chain, prior to 29 December 2009 is subject to the requirements of the existing Directive 98/37/EC. This also appplies to secondhand machinery, except when refurbished or upgraded resulting in a change to its' original specification - at which point the machinery must be made to comply with the full requirements of the updated directive. Please note that the requirements of the new directive also apply to any pre-existing machinery brought into Europe.

This directive places a duty on manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe on supply and the scope of this directive has been updated to now incorporate:

Machinery;
Interchangeable Equipment;
Safety Components;
Lifting Accessories;
Chains, Ropes and Webbing;
Removable Mechanical Transmission Devices;
Party Completed Machinery;

I apologise that this is not my area of expertise, but understand that this is a topic that may be of interest to many of you.

You may find the following new Machinery Directive resources and guidance notes useful:

The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20081597_en_1
Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_157/l_15720060609en00240086.pdf
BERR Information about the Machinery Directive
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/sustainability/regulations/ecdirect/page12543.html
Conformance.co.uk Information about the Machinery Directive
http://www.conformance.co.uk/directives/ce_new_machinery.php

If you are able to provide any further advice or guidance please do contribute to this post.

Kind Regards,

Phil

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:19 pm

The following guide, published by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills may also be useful for anyone interested in the new directive:

BIS Department for Business Innovation and Skills - MACHINERY - Guidance notes on the UK Regulations
(http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file52968.pdf)

The European Commission (EC) is also due to publish comprehensive guidance to cover the entire revised directive this month.

Regards,

Phil

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:57 am

A practical guide to machinery safety is also now available from Laider. Sponsored by Laider Associates and Safety Systems Technology, this guide covers the new Machinery Directive legislation as well as including the EMC Directive, Low Voltage Directive, ATEX Directive and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER).

The guide includes risk assessment, hazard analysis and also advice and information regarding CE Marking.

Hard-copies are available on request (please phone 0333 123 7777), but the electronic guide can be downloaded from the Laider website downloads section:
Laider Website (www.laidler.co.uk)
Please note you will need to register your details to obtain free access to the Laidler downloads section.

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:36 pm

The 1st edition of the long awaited European Commission, Enterprise and Industry, Guide to the Application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC has now been released and is available to download from the European Commission website.

This 1st Edition of the Guide to application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC includes comments on the Preamble, on the legal provisions set out in the Articles, on the essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex I and on the requirements for Declarations set out in Annex II. The 2nd Edition of the Guide, planned for the spring of 2010, will be completed with comments on Annexes III to XI of the Machinery Directive. It is intended to publish regular updates of the Guide in order to introduce answers to questions agreed by the Machinery Committee and the Machinery Working Group.

Guide to application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC pdf - (2 MB PDF)

	Slips, Trips and Falls
	Falls from Vehicles
	Workplace Transport
	Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
	Human Factors/Behaviour
	COSHH
	Working at Height
	Lone-working and Violence
	Mental Health and Stress
	Health and Well-being
	Vibration
	Other - please comment after voting...