The manufacturer, the owner of the plant, the employer and the employee have rights and duties related to the safety of machinery and plants.
The manufacturer
Provide the necessary documentation (Declaration of Conformity, operating instructions, manuals).
The plant owner
The employer
To ensure the proper operation and use of the production asset throughout its life cycle, from installation to dismantling.
The employee
Announce or report any malfunction, dangerous situation observed or damage to the production equipment.
Planning safety when building a new production facility
The installation, operation and disposal of the machines must be carried out in accordance with ordinance 819.14 on machine safety. The employer has responsibilities related to the safety of machinery and installations, here are the main ones:
The purchase or construction of a new machine
You buy a machine on the Swiss market
- the declaration of compliance or incorporation
- instructions or assembly instructions
The employer must:
- check the machine for obvious defects before putting it into operation.
- check that the declaration of conformity or incorporation, as well as the instructions or assembly instructions have been supplied
You import a machine from abroad
- the declaration of compliance or incorporation, and
- the instruction or assembly manual is available, and that
- the machine has no obvious defects
- In the absence of the documents mentioned above, it is up to the employer to provide proof of the safety of the machine and to supply the instruction manual.
You build the machine yourself
- have constructed the machine in accordance with the essential health and safety requirements (according to Annex I of the Machinery Directive)
- have the risk assessment technical documentation, and the instruction leaflet, and draw up the declaration of conformity
The purchase of second-hand machines
As an employer, you must ensure that when you acquire a second-hand machine, it is given to you together with the following documents:
- declaration of conformity or other “proof of safety”
- updated instructions
Sources: SUVApro: How to acquire machines that comply with safety regulations?
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Maintaining safety when renovating or upgrading a machine or installation
The extension of an existing machine or installation with a new machine.
In addition to the safety features mentioned when purchasing a new machine, the following conditions must be met when expanding an existing machine or system.
- Declarations of conformity for each machine must be available.
- Proof of the safety of the interfaces between the existing and new machine, e.g. by means of a risk assessment according to SN EN ISO 12100.
- Implement and document safety measures at the interfaces.
- These measures must meet the essential health and safety requirements of Annex I of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Complete the overall instruction manual accordingly (individual instructions are not sufficient).
The upkeep and maintenance of the machines
According to SUVA, machine maintenance is a major cause of accidents. Every year, more than 10 people lose their lives during maintenance work on machines or industrial plants.
The main risks are related to inadequate work organisation and mechanical hazards.
In addition, machines are becoming increasingly complex and their maintenance and troubleshooting require increased skills that operating personnel often lack.
Both the employer and the workers have legal obligations related to the planning of work and the securing of installations during work.
Calling in specialists is therefore a simple measure that drastically reduces the risk of accidents.
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Our advice
With our maintenance and standby service, we are the ideal partner for the implementation of safety measures, maintenance and repair of your installations.
Preventing accidents
The causes of accidents are mainly human, but also related to missing or inadequate safety devices. Accident prevention requires a good understanding of the situation and the implementation of concrete measures.
Safety planning
A security concept must be developed and an action plan defining the deployment of measures according to prioritization criteria must be drawn up.
Adapting security measures
The analysis, planning and implementation of preventive measures are therefore essential.
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Restoring safety after an accident
An accident is always dramatic, no matter how small it is, it impacts the health but also the confidence of the individuals involved. Not to mention the economic and legal consequences.
Restoring safety and confidence is therefore essential.
With the right analysis, concept and implementation of corrective measures, safety can be quickly restored to your production facilities.
