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Contrinex Industrial Electronics
EN/ISO 14121 also describes procedures for identifying hazards and
assessing risks, and provides guidance on the information required to
achieve this goal. The process involves analyzing the risks in a sys-
tematic and documented way, in order to eliminate or reduce hazards.
Qualitative and quantitative methods can be used.
All aspects of potential hazards must be taken into consideration:
–
The phases of a machine’s life
–
The full range of foreseeable uses and misuses of a machine
–
All persons possibly exposed to hazards when the machine is being
used
Risk is defined as a function of the severity of possible harm and the
probability that such harm occurs (frequency and duration of exposure,
possibility of avoiding harm, etc.). One important piece of information is
the history of accidents, if available.
Among the aspects to be considered when establishing elements of
risk, the analysis should account for
–
Different types of exposure depending on the type of work (setting,
teaching, operating, cleaning, etc.)
–
Human factors, such as applicability and ergonomic issues
–
The reliability of safety functions, including their maintenance
–
The possibility to defeat or circumvent safety measures
EN/ISO 14121-1:2007 gives a full list of hazards referenced by EN/
ISO 12100.
In addition, the safety of any machine will diminish with time due to the
deterioration of components, wear, loosening of parts, etc. It is there-
fore important to conduct regular inspections in order to detect defects
that may lead to reduced safety, and to effect the necessary repairs
before the level of risk exceeds the original assessment.
EN/ISO 14121
