Packaging: Machine builders get help meeting risk assessment standard

-- Control Engineering, 8/5/2008

Milwaukee, WI – Rockwell Automation is helping packaging machine builders comply with the ANSI/PMMI B155.1 standard, which will apply to packaging and related converting machinery shipped after October 25, 2008.

New requirements for packaging machinery and packaging-related converting machinery were introduced in 2006. They include a risk-assessment standard to help machine builders identify safeguarding requirements and define required control circuit architectures and safety performance levels. While the standard is not a regulation, compliance with it can help machine builders reduce risks to an acceptable level over the life of a machine, and document the risk assessment process.

Rockwell Automation’s safety specialists, knowledgeable in the requirements of the B155.1 standard, will conduct a risk assessment that includes documentation and help individual machine builders apply the appropriate level of safety integration.

Rockwell Automation Training Services will hold one-day machine safety seminars, designed for those in leadership and technical roles, at locations across the U.S. Michael Duta, a safety consultant with more than 23 years of engineering experience, conducts the sessions. Topics include components of a successful machine safety program; OSHA compliance; standards, technology and improving the bottom line; safety component applications; safety circuit design; and risk assessment methodology.

 The company also provides the following safety services:

Arc Flash Services reduce the risk of employee injury from electrical arc flash/blast and the resulting release of dangerous levels of heat energy, fire, molten materials, or vaporized solids. These include electrical power systems analysis, overcurrent protective device coordination analysis, arc flash safety training, hazard analysis and mitigation, and short circuit current analysis.

CE Mark Conformity Services help manufacturers meet applicable CE marking directives before products are sold in the European Union. The service spans 13 elements, including issuance of a Declaration of Conformity to indicate conformity of the referenced product to the listed provisions of application directives and standards.

Safety System Validation Services confirm that a safety system meets design requirements. Services validate proper system installation and functionality, fault tolerance, fault action, software logic, device application, device function, and reset actions for all modes of operation.

Safety Circuit Analysis verifies that safety circuit design meets applicable standards. These may include EN-954 Category B,1,2,3 or 4, ANSI B11.TR3 control reliable, single channel with monitoring, single channel, or others. Services include drawing evaluation, re-evaluation of corrected drawings, third-party evaluation, and letter of conformity to the defined safety circuit architecture. 

Safety Systems Design and Integration Services helps with selection of machine safety components and services by performing project management, system architecture design, panel design, material procurement (including third-party hardguarding products), assembly, software development, hardware/software integration testing, factory acceptance, and startup assistance. 

Hazard Assessment identifies safeguarding deficiencies and recommends a machine guarding solution compliant with current safety standards.

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Assessment analyzes a system and provides recommendations for training, marking or labeling, and hardware. 

Machine Stop-Time Analysis includes stop-time measurements and safe distance calculations to assure compliance of light curtain, two-hand control, area scanner, and safety mat installations.

For more about Risk Assessment, see the related Control Engineering article.

 Rockwell Automation

– Control Engineering News Desk
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