New safety training course: Use and supply of packaging machines

Pilz has experienced increased demand for courses that cover specific topics within machine safety, such as the functional safety aspects (to either EN ISO 13849-1 or EN 62061) and electrical safety aspects (to EN 60204-1). Both these topics are covered by B standards that are harmonised to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. There are three types of standard - A, B and C - which are harmonised to the directive. There is really one main A standard covering the principles of risk assessment and risk reduction (EN ISO 12100:2010), but there are many B standards covering general safety requirements (such as consistent control response in EN ISO 13849) and specific safety devices (such as how to position safeguards with respect to the approach speeds of part of the body in EN ISO 13855), and there are hundreds of C-type machine-specific standards covering machine groups and special machinery.

One widely used type of machine is packaging machinery. The group of C-standards applicable to these machines is the EN 415 series (parts 1 to 9, with an additional part 10 that is currently in draft).

By making use of such standards, machine builders demonstrate a presumption of conformity to the essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) of the Machinery Directive, which ultimately enables them to place the machines on the European market with a CE mark to indicate their claim that conformity assessment procedures have been followed.

It is assumed that most UK packaging machine builders know what they are doing - and it is clear from this year's Total Processing and Packaging Show that there are a good number of successful UK machine builders making state-of-the-art packaging machines such as form, fill and seal machines, flow wrapping machines and cartoning machines.

There is a large base of potential machine purchasers in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and other processing industries who look further afield for their machines, and it was felt that they need to be more aware of the hazards associated with such machines and the safety requirements laid out in the EN 415 standards. Why? Experience indicates that many buy machines that are 'CE Marked' outside the UK, they take delivery, commission the machine and undertake a PUWER assessment - at which point they find that the machine is, in fact, not safe. Before they can use the machine, they need to spend more money, usually through the addition of extra safeguards and safety-related controls. This cost is almost always borne by the purchasing company, and not the machine builder or importer who sold it.

The need for training

There is, therefore, a case to be made for purchasers of such machines to improve their awareness and competence in the field of the safety requirements of the machines they are purchasing so that they know what questions to ask the machine builders before they commit to purchase; any non-compliances can therefore be highlighted (and rectified) pre-purchase and pre-delivery. This can only lead to an improvement in the supply and purchasing of safe machines, with attendant cost savings for the purchaser.

Pilz has therefore developed a two-day course on packaging machine safety. The aim is to give trainees an understanding of the latest legal and best practice requirements for the use and supply of packaging machinery and continuous handling equipment within the UK and elsewhere in Europe. It also provides a very good insight into the general safety legislation and standards for all types of machines used in Europe (as part of day 1, with day 2 focused on packaging and ancillary equipment).

This course covers the key C-type standards affecting primary and secondary packaging machines, and continuous handling bulk material machines (conveyors). It also provides an overview of relevant standards for risk assessment, safeguards, safety-related controls, and the safety aspects of electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and robotic controls.

Topics include:

• European Directives affecting supply of equipment
• UK National regulations affecting the use of equipment (PUWER 98)
• European standards structure
• Risk assessment and risk reduction considerations
• Guarding and safety-related control system requirements (eg EN 953 and EN ISO 13849)
• Key European C-standard series EN 415 for packaging machines (pre-formed-rigid containers; form, filling and sealing; palletisers/depalletisers; wrapping; pallet wrapping; group and secondary; strapping )
• Key European C-standards for continuous handling of bulk materials - storage and transport (eg by conveyors)
• The supply and purchasing of brand new and second-hand machines

The course has been developed specifically for the following:

• Users of machinery in the food , beverage, tobacco, pharmaceutical, warehousing and other industries
• Those responsible for purchasing machines looking to become better informed about the compliance of the machines they purchase
• Those responsible for the safety of employees coming into contact with these machines
• Those responsible for redesigning/modifying/integrating these types of machines within factory lines
• Engineers, engineering managers and safety managers

By the end of the course, the participants will:

• Have an understanding of the scope of European legislation affecting packaging and material handling machines
• Have an understanding of the relevant standards for most types of packaging and material handling machines
• Be able to make better informed choices about the safety requirements of these machines when supplying, purchasing, using or integrating these into their factories

Follow the link for or more information about the new Use and supply of packaging machines training course, email [email protected] or telephone +44 (0)1536 406766 and ask for Martin Palmer, David Collier or Kerry Oldford (for bookings).