Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : March 06, 2021
A risk assessment is essential, when designing new machines or modifying existing machines, to build adequate design strategy for accident prevention related to the use of machines. However, it is not a process that can be achieved by mechanically implementing certain formulated procedures, actually, it is a sort of creative work that requires much experience and knowledge about all the risks associated with the machine from engineers involved in its design. Therefore, securing and developing personnel with relevant skills for the risk assessment are being recognized as a big burden, especially, on small and medium-sized manufactures which generally suffer from a shortage of human resource. In this paper, an essential aspect of “hazard identification” which is the most important step in any risk assessment and needs supports most for inexperienced designers are clarified. In the hazard identification, the designers are required to derive(imagine) possible accident scenarios based on their empirical knowledges and accumulated information. From preliminary considerations on application of product safety standards (so called as Type-C standards) which are dealing with significant hazards concerned in a certain type of machine to the risk assessment, a practical way to facilitate inexperienced designers identify the hazards in the machine design phase by utilizing basic and generic safety standards which are comprised of fundamental requirements relating to general safe design of machinery is proposed.
