Posted By Mitch
Stuart,

Specifically what does your question relate to? There is the manufacturer's RA which determines their CE marking procedure, in the UK he is the Supply of Machinery Reg's etc.

Mitch

Posted By Mitch
Stuart,

As far as I am aware there will is no standard that will specify how to guard this machine but there is a series of BS EN's which specify what you should consider when considering or designing machinery guarding I will email you direct and it contains details on an excellent supplier of supplementary guarding. I used to own a water jet cutting machine which was remotely programmed and operated, this had a light guard fence around the cutting bed so that operators could not access it whilst the machine was in operation, the machine was manufactured in the USA and was not supplied with this type of guarding there only in the EU. As regards the declaration I have come across this 'reluctance' to provide one with suppliers before and a veiled threat to contact the HSE normally brings this to a satisfactory conclusion.

Regards

Mitch

Posted By ClaireL
There is no definitive standard of guarding. It is back to first principles ie, can you access the danger zone, if so then (wherever reasonably practicable) you must provide guarding. But that guarding could be any type appropriate to the work (fixed, distance, interlock, pressure mats, light-guarding etc) as long as it cannot be easily defeated or cause an additional danger.

In my experience CE marking means nothing! A requirement it may be but it still doesn't get out of the requirements of PUWER.

Posted By Mitch
Claire,

Agree somewhat on your perception of CE marking though speaking as someone who until my current position bought machinery and now supply machinery it means what you make of it either in what you demand and expect of your supplier and on the other hand what you feel you should provide as a supplier. Unfortunately all too many suppliers play on peoples ignorance of CE marking requirements which belittles the intent and purpose of them.

Mitch

Posted By Stuart James Gornall
Thanks for the responses so far


I am just looking for something more specific


Anyone out there ?

Posted By ClaireL
Stuart,

We are not giving you anything more specific because that's what we are saying, there is no regulated guarding set-up for automated routers.

Short of seeing the machine and watching what work people are doing all we can say is that you need to assess it in accordance with the requirements of PUWER.

In general for automatic routers you would be looking at keeping operatives away from the danger area. This varies from machine to machine but is often through the use of light-guards that trip out when the danger zone is entered. But it really does depend on the design of the machine and so you are asking us to give advice blind.

Can't

Posted By ClaireL
You were repeatedly told that there are no standards yet still kept asking for more specific advice. I reinforced what was said and gave you some tips on specific guarding solutions. Since when was giving advice upon request patronising.

As someone who has successfully stood up and prosecuted breaches of PUWER on numerous occasions you have a damn nerve telling me I don't understand the requirements of PUWER. I also have a great deal of experience with woodworking machines.

Try looking at Reg 11 Section (2) and I think you will see the term 'practicable' used several times.

I shall ensure I never respond to your request for advice again as you are obviously incapable of accepting it prefering instead to insult another's competence.

Posted By Robert K Lewis
My general experience o similar machines would be to look at teh inter-relationship between the guarding requirements and the noise suppression requirements. It is practicable to achieve both adequate guarding and noise reduction to below the 80 DbA action level and in my view, as this is an automatic machine you should endeavour to do this.

The real issue will be the feed arrangements but I suspect this is a fairly large scale process to require such equipment and process efficiency, therefore, will be enhanced.

Bob

Posted By Stuart James Gornall
Thanks Bob

You make a good point RE Guarding and Noise reduction and I will certainly take this into consideration

Regards


Stuart

Posted By Stuart James Gornall
Hi Mitch


Existing installation. Not sure how, old I am trying to obtain info from supplier Declaration of Conformity etc