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www.iso.org ISO
safety standard to protect users of all types of machinery
The new ISO 14121-1 standard on risk
assessment for machinery will help designers and manufacturers reduce
associated safety hazards.
Whether you are pouring concrete, mowing
the lawn or working on a lathe, machine operation can result in serious
injury. Studies show that the cost of a single accident to the individual
and to society can be as high as USD 1 million, not to mention the pain
and inconvenience experienced by the affected persons.
The use of machinery is key to the
development of any country. However, accidents occur wherever these are
used, be it in professional, domestic or leisure contexts. Inadequate
holding devices in lifting machines, for instance, can result in the
crushing of an individual, or loud noises produce hearing loss.
These accidents can involve several people
at a time, as in a train crash, or be confined to a nonetheless
potentially serious incident around the house. As a result, individuals
can suffer irreversible damage or even death. Society might have to nurse
and support the affected person and his family. If at the workplace, the
employer might need to replace a costly machine and cover medical
expenses, resulting in significant economic loss.
With the new ISO 14121-1:2007,
Safety of machinery – Risk assessment – Part 1: Principles,
manufacturers will be able to identify risks during the design stage of
production and hence prevent future accidents. The risk assessment
guidelines provided in the standard are presented as a series of logical
steps. These will help designers to systematically determine the limits of
the machinery; identify risks of hazards like radiation, burning or
electrocution; and estimate potential dangers ranging from machine failure
to human error.
The information obtained through this
process will allow producers to determine whether a machine is adequately
safe or not. In the eventual case that the machine is not found to
be adequately safe, this information will be valuable for the subsequent
risk reduction stage. The process would then be repeated until the machine
is established as adequately safe for use. This new standard could save
millions of dollars in compensation and lost production.
Moreover, there are currently a myriad of
national safety legislations that oblige manufacturers to comply with a
variety of diverging requirements. The widespread adoption of this
International Standard based on consensus could therefore facilitate
international trade, while improving occupational health and safety.
ISO 14121-1 will also form a basis for the
development of further standards dealing with specific safety aspects or
safeguards, or for more detailed safety requirements in particular
machines. The second part of ISO 14121 is currently under preparation,
ISO/PRF TR 14121-2, Safety of machinery – Risk assessment –
Part 2: Practical guidance and examples of methods.
ISO 14121-1 was developed by ISO/TC 199,
Safety of machinery, which works together with industry, health and
safety bodies, authorities, unions, employer’s associations and
international organizations such as the International Labour Organization
(ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop standards that
reduce the risks of injury from machinery at home, work and during leisure
activities.
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