Identify the risks of using machinery and work equipment – before they lead to hazardous situations.
Protect’s experts assess how safely machinery and work equipment are used in real working conditions. You receive a documented risk assessment and concrete recommendations for improving safety.
The safe use of machinery and work equipment requires hazards to be identified and risks to be assessed systematically. Risks are not only related to the technical features of machines, but also to working methods, the operating environment, and maintenance and malfunction situations.
Employers are obliged to systematically investigate and assess the safety of the machinery and work equipment used at work. This obligation is based on the Finnish Occupational Safety and Health Act (738/2002) and the Government Decree on the Safe Use and Inspection of Work Equipment (403/2008).
Section 4 of the Decree on the use of work equipment requires the assessment to take into account not only the features of the work equipment, but also the hazards arising from the work and the conditions of use. Safety must be assessed especially when production and working methods change.
The aim of risk assessment is to identify hazardous situations before they lead to accidents or other damage. The assessment also establishes whether the current safety measures are sufficient or whether additional measures are needed.
A thorough risk assessment helps a company develop safe working methods, prevent accidents and ensure that machinery and work equipment can be used safely in different work situations.
The safety of machinery and work equipment must be assessed regularly. The assessment is particularly important when the conditions of use, working methods or the operation of machines change.
A risk assessment may be relevant, for example, when:
Risk assessment is therefore not just a task related to taking a machine into use, but part of managing its safety throughout its service life.
Protect’s risk assessment is based on how machinery and work equipment are actually used. The assessment is carried out to the agreed extent at the customer’s site, where our experts observe the work and talk with the machine operators and, where necessary, with maintenance staff.
The assessment covers, among other things, the following areas:
Machine use and work phases
In addition to normal use, we look at tasks such as setting and adjustment, cleaning, clearing malfunctions and maintenance. These work phases may involve hazardous situations that do not occur in normal use.
Mechanical hazards and guarding
We assess, for example, the risks caused by moving parts, crushing and cutting points and other hazardous structures. At the same time, we examine whether the existing guards are adequate.
Control and safety devices
We consider hazardous situations related to starting and stopping the machine, control devices and safety functions, as well as risks such as unexpected start-up.
Energy isolation and safe maintenance
We examine how the machine’s energy supply and any stored energy are taken into account in servicing, cleaning and troubleshooting work.
Working environment and working methods
We assess how the machine’s location, the working environment, other people working in the area and the working methods in use affect safety.
We also take into account the available operating instructions, staff induction and other existing risk control measures.
Together with the customer, we determine the objectives of the assessment, the machines to be assessed and the work phases to be examined. We review the necessary background information and agree on how the site visit will be carried out. The assessment is always planned according to the customer’s needs and the machinery or work equipment to be assessed.
Our experts examine the machines in their actual operating environment. We observe the work phases and interview the machine operators so that the hazardous situations that actually occur in practical work are identified.
If hazards requiring immediate action are detected during the assessment, we raise them with the customer’s responsible person already during the site visit. Urgent safety findings are not left waiting for the final report.
We assess the risks of the identified hazardous situations and the adequacy of the current safety measures. Based on the results, we draw up justified and prioritised proposals for improving safety.
We go through the results of the assessment together with the customer. The findings and proposed measures form the basis for planning safety improvements, assigning responsibility for them and monitoring them.
If needed, we can also agree on monitoring the implementation of the measures and updating the risk assessment.
As the outcome of the risk assessment for the use of machinery and work equipment, the customer receives a documented overall picture of the safety and development needs of the assessed machinery and equipment.
As a result of the assessment, we deliver:
The results are reviewed together with the customer so that the necessary measures can be planned and implemented in a controlled way.
The purpose of a risk assessment is not just to produce a document, but to help the company make the right decisions to improve safety.
The scope of the assessment is agreed according to the customer’s needs. The machinery and work equipment to be assessed and the work phases to be examined are defined together before the assignment begins. Any separate measurements, validation of safety functions, detailed design of technical modifications and CE conformity assessment are not automatically included in the service, but are agreed separately if needed.
Does your company have self-built machines or machines that have been modified? Changes to a machine’s structure, control systems or intended use can create new hazardous situations that were not taken into account in the previous risk assessment.
The safety of self-built and modified machines must also be assessed in their actual conditions of use. Substantial modifications may also mean that the company takes on the obligations of a machine manufacturer.
Protect helps identify the risks arising from the use of machinery and determine the necessary safety measures. Any investigations related to the manufacturer’s conformity and CE marking are agreed separately.
Risk assessment for the use of machinery and work equipment is part of the overall identification of hazards and assessment of risks at the workplace. Find out more about how we help identify occupational hazards and assess risks.
Has the safe use of your machinery been assessed thoroughly enough? And does the assessment also cover maintenance, troubleshooting and other situations that differ from normal use?
Protect’s experts help you identify hazards and determine what measures are needed to ensure the safe use of machinery and work equipment.
Contact us and let’s discuss your company’s risk assessment needs.
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