Proposal of Implementation Support Method and Means for Hazard Identification at the Design Phase of Machinery

Abstract

The implementation of risk assessment (hereafter, “RA”) at the design stage is essential for preventing workplace accidents related to the use of machines. However, among small and medium-sized machine manufactures and integrators in particular, the dissemination and embeddedness of RA are impeded by the difficulty of “hazard identification”, which is regarded as the most important step in the whole RA process.

In order to establish an effective method to support machine designers who are inexperienced in RA, this study focuses on two aspects of difficulty of hazard identification that can be resolved by utilizing the requirements stated in industrial standards related to machinery safety. This concept is inspired by the application of type-C machine safety standards to obtain a presumption of conformity with the European Machinery Directive. A hazard identification support software tool embodying the concept is proposed and its specifications and functions are described in this paper. As results of confirming operation of the tool by four industrial safety consultants, the proposed support method itself was highly regarded, however, some points to be improved were noted that could increase the effectiveness for the target designers.