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 08 August 2007
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Integrated Product Standards Guidance - Machinery Regulations

Designing machinery to meet the requirements of The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended) SI. 1992. No. 3073 and SI. 1994 No. 2063 and other relevant Regulations.

A guide to the fundamental elements and the essential information sources.

This Guide is intended to give designers of new machinery guidance on where to find information sources that can be used to meet the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations - referred to in this text as the "Machinery Regulations" - which implement in the UK the Machinery Directive (consolidated into Directive 98/37/EC). It should be noted, however, that the duty to comply with the Machinery Regulations is imposed on the "responsible person" as defined by the Machinery Regulations. Duties are not imposed directly on the designer unless the designer is also the responsible person but there is the expectation that the machine will meet the requirements of the Machinery Regulations.

Although the Machinery Directive was finalised in December 1989 and the UK Machinery Regulations have been in force since 1993 it is clear that many designers are still having difficulty in finding all of the information sources that can be used as aids for designing new machines and for complying with the conformity assessment procedures so that the machine can be placed on the market and put into service in the EEA. It is also difficult to keep up with the changing requirements imposed by the addition of new EU Directives and their amendments as well as the interpretations (not legally binding but helpful guidance) issued by the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Machinery Directive (SC 98/37/EC).

The following eight pages may be read individually for reference, or in sequence as a step-by-step guide to the requirements of the Machinery Regulations:

  1. Basic requirements of the Machinery Regulations as amended
  2. The EC Standing Committee for the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC (SC 98/37/EC)
  3. Is your product covered by the Machinery Regulations?
  4. Do you need to comply with other Regulations or take note of Employment Protection Regulations?
  5. How to comply with Schedule 3 of the Machinery Regulations (The Essential Health and Safety Requirements - EHSRs)
  6. Harmonised European Standards
  7. Hazard identification and Risk Assessment
  8. Making a declaration of conformity and Appointed Bodies

In addition to the information listed above we have gathered together details of Regulations and other important documents on a series of additional pages and have added the direct links to the actual documents and information sites - many of which you will be able to download.

More information on the current state of the regulations and publications can be obtained from the Standards and Technical Regulations web pages.


This guidance material is intended to assist designers and manufacturers of Machinery, and others, to understand the effect of the Regulations. It is not an authoritative interpretation of the Regulations, which is a matter for the Courts.

This material seeks to explain the requirements of the Regulations in general terms and does not attempt to address detailed issues. You should refer to the Regulations themselves for a full statement of the requirements.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that this material is accurate, the Department of Trade & Industry cannot accept liability for any errors, omissions or misleading statements in it, whether caused by negligence or otherwise.
 

 

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