Machines and installations comprise the largest group of work equipment used in the workplace. A well-designed machine with appropriate safety features, along with correct usage, is key to enhancing both labor safety and productivity. Vinçotte advises on the safest use of your work equipment.
What you need to know
According to Book IV of the Codex on Well-being at Work, an employer may only provide safe machines to their employees. To comply, legislation for machine usage imposes the following requirements:
- New machines or installations must meet CE marking or minimum requirements for work equipment if CE marking is not applicable.
- Existing machines in use must at least meet minimum requirements for work equipment.
- When ordering machines and installations, necessary safety requirements must be formulated to comply with legislation and company safety policies.
- Upon delivery of machines and installations, an accountability document from the supplier must be obtained.
- Before commissioning machines and installations, the prevention advisor must assess, in a report, that the equipment meets regulations and is sufficiently safe.
- Adequate written instructions must be available regarding the operation, usage, inspection, and maintenance of machines and installations.
- The safety level must be maintained throughout the machine's entire lifespan, with necessary inspections provided to prevent hazardous situations.
Our machine safety experts can advise you in all these steps and offer practical solutions.
Advantages
- Compliance with legislation on work equipment.
- Purchase and commissioning of new work equipment suitable for the task or sufficiently adapted to ensure safe use.
- A correct and comprehensive commissioning report.
- Risk analysis identifying the risks associated with in-use work equipment, as well as solutions to mitigate or reduce these risks to an acceptable level.
- Maintaining the safety of existing work equipment, considering developments in safety technology.