EUROPEAN STANDARDS

European Machinery Directives
The aim of the EC Directives is to harmonise the national legislation of the Member States so as to have common regulations concerning technical, economic, social aspects, etc. and to facilitate the free circulation of goods, service and people within the framework of the European union, in compliance with common rule recognised by all the EC Member States.

In particular, where the safety of workers is concerned, the harmonisation of legal provisions has made great progress, resulting in the formulation and approval of Directives and Standards of essential importance.

The Directives governing safety components are:

- Machines Directive 98/37/EEC
- Social Directives 89/655/EEC and 89/391/EEC
- Low Voltage Directives 73/23/EEC
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EEC

The Machine Directive:

The “Machine Directive” 98/37/EEC is meant for the manufacturers of machines and safety components, and has the following objectives:

- The definition of safety and health protection requirements for the improvement of the degree of protection offered to the operators in charge of hazardous machinery
- The design, construction and placing on the market of the European Union of safety machines and components complying with the minimum safety requirements laid down by the Directive itself
- The free circulation in the Member States of machines and safety components conforming to the Directive
- It applies to all new machines and safety components that are sold, on rental or hired, and to used machinery in the event of sale, rental or loan
- It sets forth the essential safety requirements relating to the design and construction of machines and safety components and it defines the respective certification procedures
- It has been mandatory since 1 January 1995 for machines and 1 January 1997 for safety components. As of the dates mentioned above, only products conforming to the Directive can be marketed or commissioned in the European Union

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

The Australian Standards for safety of machinery are based upon and also reference EN, ISO and IEC standards with minor changes to suit Australian requirements. A similar hierarchy is followed as per the European Standards. Examples of type A and B standards are listed below.

Further information can be found at Standards Australia web site: www.standards.org.au

Safety of Machinery
Safety principles
AS 4024.1101-2006 Terminology – General
AS 4024.1201-2006 Basic terminology and methodology
AS 4024.1202-2006 Technical principles

Risk assessment
AS 4024.1301-2006 Principles of risk assessment
AS 4024.1302-2006 Reduction of risks to health and safety from hazardous substances emitted by machinery
Principles and specification for machinery manufacturers
Ergonomic principles
AS 4024.1401-2006 Design principles – Terminology and general principles

Design Parameters
Design of safety related parts of control systems
AS 4024.1501-2006 General principles
AS 4024.1502-2006 Validation
Design of controls, interlocks and guarding
AS 4024.1601-2006 Guards – General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and moveable guards
AS 4024.1602-2006 Principles for design and selection
AS 4024.1603-2006 Prevention of unexpected start-up
AS 4024.1604-2006 Emergency stop – Principles for design

Ergonomics
Human body measurements
AS 4024.1701-2006 Basic human body measurements for technological design
AS 4024.1702-2006 Principles for determining the dimensions required for openings for whole body access to machinery
AS 4024.1703-2006 Principles for determining the dimensions required for access openings
AS 4024.1704-2006 Anthropometric data

Safety distances and safety gaps
AS 4024.1801-2006 Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by the upper limbs
AS 4024.1802-2006 Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by the lower limbs
AS 4024.1803-2006 Minimum gaps to prevent crushing of parts of the human body

Displays, Controls, Actuators and Signals
Ergonomic requirements for the design of displays and control actuators
AS 4024.1901-2006 General principles for human interaction with displays and control actuators
AS 4024.1902-2006 Displays
AS 4024.1903-2006 Control actuators

Indication, marking and actuation
AS 4024.1904-2006 Requirements for visual, auditory and tactile signs
AS 4024.1905-2006 Requirements for marking
AS 4024.1906-2006 Requirements for the location and operation of actuators
AS 4024.1907-2006 System of auditory and visual danger and information signals

Further examples of type A and B standards are;
AS 4024.2-1998 Safeguarding of machinery Installation and commissioning requirements for electro-sensitive systems–Optoelectronic devices
AS 4024.3-1998 Safeguarding of machinery – Manufacturing and testing requirements for electro-sensitive systems – Optoelectronic devices
AS 60204.1-2005 Safety of machinery – Electrical equipment of machines – General requirements
AS 62061-2006 Safety of machinery – Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems
AS 61508.0-2006 Functional safety of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic safety-related systems

Australia also has a number of type C standards, for example;
AS 1219-1994 Power presses – Safety requirements
AS 1755-2000 Conveyors – Safety requirements
AS 2939-1987 Industrial robot systems – Safe design and usage
AS 1893-1997 Code of practice for the guarding and safe use of metal and paper cutting guillotines
Local OH&S regulations and codes or practices also need to be taken into consideration