Equipment safety during machine retrofitting.

When ordering the retrofitting of a machine or device, the customer must bear in mind that the retrofit may affect the safety and performance of the device. The customer must be prepared for the possibility that, following the retrofit, the device may require a new type approval, CE marking or an inspection upon commissioning.

The Machinery Directive concerns the safe design and manufacture of machinery and other technical equipment. The Directive obliges the manufacturer to comply with the essential health and safety requirements when working with machinery, which cover, amongst other things, mechanical, electrical, thermal, combustion-related, explosion-related, noise and vibration risks.

Equipment safety during modernisation is an important part of occupational health and safety, and relevant EU regulations. The following must be taken into account when modernising equipment:

•                    The person (company) carrying out the modernisation is obliged to conduct a thorough risk assessment. This means assessing all possible risks that the modernised equipment may pose.

•                    After modernisation, machinery must comply with all applicable safety requirements. If the machinery was originally designed and manufactured before the current standards came into force, the modernisation must ensure that the machinery complies with the latest safety regulations.

•                    If the equipment falls into a hazardous category, a notified body must be engaged to assess compliance following the retrofit.

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