Must assume the person has no common sense or awareness of injury. A phrase I use “The Village Idiot”. That person is going to attempt to injure their self on your machine.

ACES conduct a Risk Assessment using the commercial software package “safexpert”, to identify risks and identify the appropriate control measure. Risk Assessment is conducted by Certified Machinery Safety Expert (CMSE® - PILZ/TUV), Licensed Machinery Safety Specialist (LMSS™ - ANSI B11).

A findings report is generated to identify any non-conformities and identify recommended remedial measures. Control measures are identified by international standards that have been incorporated into the relevant national standards.

Risk Assessment is based on the following approach;

Step 1 = first priority - Inherently safe design measures

Step 2 = second priority - Technical protective measures

Step 3 = third priority - Information for users

the manufacturer must exhaust all the possible inherently safe design measures before resorting to protective measures. Similarly, he must exhaust the possible protective measures before relying on warnings and instructions to operators (The operator is the least reliable source of safety).

Risk Assessments must consider (not an exclusive list);

• Electrical Safety
• Guarding – Fixed and Movable
• Interlocks
• Safety Related Parts of the Control System
• Emergency Stop
• Machine Instructions
• Pressure Vessels
• Explosive Atmospheres
• Language Used
• Warning Markings
• Maintenance
• Intended Operation

Risk Assessment is defined by the international standard;

ISO 12100:2010 Safety of machinery - General principles for design – Risk assessment and risk reduction

The above standard defines the need to Risk Assessment BUT does not explain how to perform a Risk Assessment.