Machinery Safety

Machinery safety requirements

Machinery safety is a concern for suppliers and manufacturing businesses throughout the world, and there are a wide variety of regulations which help to protect people, assets and property from harm. Most manufacturing sites comprise of an array of different machinery assemblies, adding complexity to the process.

WHAT IS SS 537?

SS 537 is the Singapore Standard Code of Practice for Safe Use of Machinery, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring that workplace machines comply with industry safety standards. In an era marked by increasingly sophisticated, intelligent, and high-speed machinery designed to handle today's industrial demands, safety remains as key to protect well-being of individuals, materials, and assets. 

This standard emphasizes the shared responsibility of workplace occupiers and machine owners in ensuring the safety of their machines throughout the operational lifecycles under the Workplace Safety and Health Act. By adhering to SS 537 standards, organizations can create a safer work environment while seamlessly integrating evolving machinery concepts in today's ever-changing industrial landscape.

From 2023, all Workplace occupiers and machine owners must verify the safety of their machines through an inspection company. TÜV SÜD is an authorised inspection body for SS 537 in Singapore. 

EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC

The EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) specifies a number of essential health and safety requirements (EHSR), which are designed to guarantee that any piece of industrial machinery will be safe to use. The requirements cover a wide range of machines and machinery.

To view a list of Annex IV equipment and requirements, download the full EU Machinery Directive document.

Download here

EN ISO 12100 – Hazard & risk analysis

For all products which fall under the scope of the Machinery Directive, a hazard analysis/risk assessment must be carried out.

A risk assessment follows a series of logical steps to identify and examine any potential hazards associated with machinery. This provides information for a risk evaluation, in which a decision is made on the safety of machinery for risks to be reduced where necessary.

The European Norm standard, EN ISO 12100, outlines the hazard analysis/risk assessment procedure as follows:

• Determination of the limits of the machinery
• Hazard identification
• Risk estimation and risk evaluation

EN ISO 12100 also provides guidance on the safety of machinery and the type of documentation required in verifying a risk assessment. 

The Machinery Directive is one of several EU regulations which must be complied with in order to achieve the CE mark. CE Marking is a legal requirement for all products sold within the European Union and demonstrates that the minimum requirements of all applicable directives have been met.