Machinery safety consultancy addresses CE Marking issues

Derek Coulson, principal consultant for Safe Machine, was one of the founders of Laidler Associates in 1998, and its Notified Body, Laidler Certification. According to Coulson: "There is a huge disconnection between the regulations and the understanding of many manufacturers. I have been working in the field of machinery safety since 1995 and when I conduct training, for every 10 manufacturers I speak to, only one or two are fully familiar with CE marking - and in my experience very few companies are doing it right.

When purchasing new machinery, it is important to carry out a CE Audit to ensure that it meets all of the legal requirements and is CE marked correctly. This involves ensuring that a Technical File exists for the equipment, or can be compiled for the equipment. It is also important to check that the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR’s) have been addressed, and that all relevant tests have been carried out. Safe Machine can carry out all these checks and also review the machine or complex assembly.