Shocked and Amazed by Brexit This morning I am shocked and amazed to learn that one of the founders of the European Union has chosen to leave that Union. Joining the EEC in 1973, the UK and other European countries moved toward the formation of the EU, first as an economic treaty, and eventually as a political…
Read MoreTesting Emergency Stop Systems
I’ve had a number of questions from readers regarding testing of emergency stop systems, and particularly with the frequency of testing. I addressed the types of tests that might be needed in another article covering Checking Emergency Stop Systems. This article will focus on the frequency of testing rather than the types of tests. The Problem Emergency…
Read MoreRisk Assessment Blunders
Updated 7‑Jul-2014 Recently I read a blog post written by David Cant, called, “Are You Making These Risk Assessment Blunders?”. Writing in the UK, Mr. Cant spoke to some of the common kinds of problems that can occur when employers conduct risk assessments. Many his points are equally applicable to machine building: No Risk Assessment – This seems self…
Read MoreInterpreting the EU MACHINERY DIRECTIVE 2006/42/EC: An Interview with Ian Fraser
This article was originally published on CEMarking.net. Check out the interview that Han Zuyderwijk of CEMarking.net and I did with Ian Fraser, former Policy Officer at the European Commission responsible for the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), and Team Leader about questions related to the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). During the interview, we discuss: the regulatory developments in the directive…
Read MoreQ & A SESSION ON THE MACHINERY DIRECTIVE WITH IAN FRASER
The Guide to the Machinery Directive: Ian Fraser Han Zuyderwijk from CEMarking.net and Doug Nix interview Ian Fraser about the second edition of the Guide to the Machinery Directive. CE Marking is hard enough, and the rules change frequently. Give Google a rest. We have him: the man who wrote the Machinery Directive. If he can’t…
Read MoreFive things you need to know about CE Marked Wire and Cable
Wire is simple right? Maybe not! Here are the top five things to know when selecting wire and cable products for use in designs that will be CE Marked: Wire and cable products sold in the EU must be CE Marked under the Low Voltage Directive, and MAY bear BOTH the CE Mark and the…
Read MoreCE Marking Wire and Cable – Necessity or Luxury?
When I set out to investigate the need for CE Marks and <HAR> marks on wire and cable products, I would not have guessed that it would turn out to be as much of an odyssey as it did. For most products, determining the need for a CE Mark is relatively straightforward, but not for wire and cable…
Read MoreEmergency stop devices: the risks of installer liability
On the MachineBuilding.net blog today, Alex D’Arcy, Sales Director at Hylec-APL provides some interesting insights into the liabilities associated with the installation of emergency stop devices on machinery. Hylec-APL provides technical products and solutions in the field of industrial machinery and emergency stop systems. Check out Alex’s article. If you need to know more about the…
Understanding European Declarations of Conformity or Incorporation
Updated 2014-10-29 In order to understand the various types of EU Declarations, it’s important to first understand a bit about the system that uses them. Two systems of product safety evaluation are in wide use globally: Certification, and Marking. Understanding the differences between these two systems is important for anyone who gets involved with regulatory compliance activities.…
Read MoreGet the Basics Right!
For more than 15 years I’ve been teaching people about risk assessment, machinery safety and CE Marking of machinery in private, onsite classes and through presentations at safety conferences. Things are about to change! This fall, Compliance InSight Consulting will begin offering open-enrolment workshops in CE Marking, Risk Assessment Functional Safety, and Machinery Safety, all with a focus…
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