Health and Safety Executive

Guidance on pinsetter / pinspotter machines in ten pin bowling centres

Health & Safety Executive/Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA)

Local Authority Circular

  • Subject: Pinspotters / Pinsetters (Ten Pin Bowling Machines)
  • Open Government Status: Fully Open
  • Author Unit/Section: Product Safety Team Southern (Safety Unit STSU)
  • LAC Number: 47/20
  • Keywords: Pinspotter, pinsetter, ten pin bowling centres
  • Revised: June 2009
  • Review date: June2014
  • Version: 1

To : Health and Safety Enforcing Authorities

For the attention of : Local Authority Health and Safety Enforcement Managers, Health and Safety Regulators and others

This circular gives advice to local authority enforcement officers


1. Introduction

1.1  For 40 or more years operators intervening with these machines have relied on safe systems of work alone for safety.  The lack of effective physical safeguards has permitted unfettered access to dangerous parts and tragically in recent years there have been a number of fatalities (one in the UK in 2006), plus a number of serious incidents and near misses.  This document provides information about the safety of these machines, some recent injury incidents which have occurred including three fatalities, issues for consideration (physical safety improvements, systems of work and training/supervision), and various supporting information to assist with risk assessment and the specification of protection measures. 

1.2  The main safety issues on these machines have been examined in some detail in the light of known incidents and the requirements of current UK health and safety law.  These specifically include: the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations (SMR) which implement the European Machinery Directive and have governed the safety of newly supplied machinery in the UK since 1995; and the Provision of Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) which concern the use of these machines and have applied since 1992 when they amplified the pre-existing general duties to employed and non-employed persons under Sections 2 & 3 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA74).

1.3  The document represents the culmination of some 2 years of work by a team of HSE Specialists in Mechanical, Electrical & Control Systems and Product Supply, in conjunction with a various European Regulatory Specialists from Germany, Sweden and Denmark, working with a number of Local Authority Inspectors and representatives of the UK bowling industry.  These representatives included safety managers and operators of existing installed machines, the main machinery suppliers for new machines, some of the other suppliers for second-hand/refurbished machines, and the Ten Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association which represents about 50% of UK bowling centres.  In the process European consensus on the improvements necessary for safety with these machines has been reached.

1.4  This document follows on from and formalises the advice and guidance already given on this topic through a series of articles in the previously published local authority newsletter Partnership News.

2. Scope and description

2.1 This document is intended to cover the machinery used to automatically set and clear free standing pins in ten pin bowling centres.  These leisure venues are almost all local authority enforced premises and the main risks from these machines to both the public and the centre operators are covered.  It is not intended to cover similar equipment which uses suspended/restrained pins (i.e. string/wire based systems) sometimes found in funfair environments, nor other machinery used to clean and oil the bowling lanes.   The machines are usually installed in pairs with a common ball return mechanism between them, and there may be anything from 2 to 26 or more lanes in a bowling centre.

2.2 These machines are usually referred to as pinspotters or pinsetters.  They comprise a mechanism for assembling and placing the ten pins upright onto the lane surface, registering the first bowled ball, and sweeping away the fallen pins after picking up the remaining standing ones.  The pins that were left standing are then replaced upright for the second ball to be bowled, and then all the pins and the balls are swept clear, the balls being returned via a recessed track to the front-of-house ball rack.  An imaging system counts the numbers of standing and fallen pins and the player’s score is displayed along with that for the others in the game.   Meanwhile the swept pins are automatically lifted in the machine, sorted and placed ready to be “spotted” by the table mechanism down on the lane for the next game.  Balls are bowled into the machine along a lane underneath a painted or printed “mask”, a board just in front of the machine.  In many cases the mask can be moved (hinged about the top or moved vertically) permitting greater operator access to the front of the machine.  Such access may be required for maintenance and other interventions to keep the machine running.  In these circumstances the relevant lanes are often obstructed by a board placed across the lane to protect the operator from stray balls.

2.3 However most maintenance and breakdown interventions are undertaken largely out of sight of the public by centre staff accessing the machines from an alleyway running along the back of the machines.  Annex 1 shows a line diagram view from the rear of an AMF pinsetter, describing the main access routes on and into the machine.  Although the other main design of machine, the pinspotter made by Brunswick, works in a slightly different way to the AMF machine, it performs the same basic function of spotting and clearing the ten pins.  Even though there are differences in the design and access routes, the means of access for maintenance and interventions are not dissimilar.

3. Background

3.1  These automatic machines have been supplied and used in bowling centres throughout North America,  Europe and the rest of the World for many decades.  Although many aspects of these machines have been improved since first conceived, the basic mechanical design has changed little for over 40 years.  There are about 3500 machines installed in around 200 bowling centres throughout the UK.  They are well distributed around the UK, with concentrations in the major urban centres.  About half of the UK bowling centres are operated by 4 companies employing health and safety managers who have been very influential in the recent work to improve machine safety.  The others are operated by a host of smaller organisations, right down to proprietor operated centres with just a few lanes, sometimes within other types of leisure venue (e.g. golfing centres and holiday parks).

3.2  These machines have many hazardous moving parts and they present risks of fall from heights for operators accessing them.  The lack of fundamental physical safety features to prevent access to dangerous moving parts has lead to many injury incidents, and traditionally there has been little to prevent falls from a height which could cause significant injury.  Although in recent years machines have been CE marked most of the pinspotter/pinsetter machines which HSE has seen did not have adequate safeguards to effectively prevent injury from foreseeable access. 

3.3  They are also noisy, much of the noise being a direct and unavoidable consequence of the ball to pin impact, but some is down to the way pins are handled by the machine. Suitable hearing protection for operators working on or near these machines is essential.  However the work undertaken by HSE has not considered this aspect in detail, instead concentrating on the acute risks of serious injury.

3.4  Most of the existing UK machines were supplied by one of two manufacturers: Brunswick and AMF (now known as Qubica AMF, not to be confused with a bowling centre operator with AMF in the name which is a separate organisation).  Both of these USA based manufacturers are represented by permanent staff based in the UK (and elsewhere Europe).  HSE has had extensive contact with and received significant cooperation from these manufacturers who have sent senior and technical representatives over to the UK more than once as it has sought to ensure future new machine supply is compliant with the Machinery Directive, and so safe. 

3.5  In the last decade there have been a few direct imports of this type of machine from China (mostly machines labelled Xima and Via).  These were essentially cloned copies of the AMF design, although those seen appeared to have fewer safety features than the original AMF machines, and missing or indifferent documentation.    Switch, another manufacturer but based in Europe, has been preparing to enter the UK market working on their design with the German health and safety authorities, but as of the end of 2008 had not done so (HSE would appreciate being informed of any Switch supplied UK installed machines so that its safety design can be evaluated). 

3.6  There are also a number of UK and European companies who supply second-hand and refurbished machines, most of whom have been notified of the safety issues with this type of machine and their responsibilities as suppliers.  One of these has been working with the Danish H&S authorities for a couple of years, and latterly HSE, on possible upgrade solutions for existing machines.

3.7  Many operatives work substantially alone and unsupervised.  In what can be a very high pressure customer orientated environment (particularly busy weekend evenings) the need for frequent interventions to deal with breakdowns and stoppages such as pin miss feeds has led some operatives to disregard safe systems of work and take dangerous short cuts.   Some operatives may even have been placed under pressure to cut corners.  Thus the safety culture varies at different centres, as too does the operator attitude and competence.

3.8  Whilst some parts of the industry have high standards of training this is not universal.  Formal training is offered by the machine suppliers (on site if there are sufficient numbers), but not always taken up for various reasons: for example some of the larger organisations undertake their own formal in-house training.  Steps are currently being considered by the industry through the Ten Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association to define reasonable minimum standards of training for safety. 

3.9  We do not know the full injury incident picture.  It is thought that most incidents, especially near misses, are not witnessed, reported or logged.  However there have been at least three fatalities in Europe and North America since 2001.  In  2001 in the USA an operative reached through the unguarded side of the machine and he died as a result of his head becoming trapped by the sweep mechanism.  In 2006 there was a fatal accident at a bowling centre in London when an operative became trapped inside the pinspotter he was cleaning.  Unfortunately more recently (November 2008) a third fatality occurred at a bowling centre in Denmark: a person undertaking maintenance on a pinspotter died when his neck was caught by moving parts.  Plus there was a near fatal incident in Germany in February 2008 when clothing (a scarf) became entangled in rotating parts, and a hair entanglement incident occurred in Demark during the summer of 2008.  Other known injuries include broken arms from inadequately chocked “tables” falling under their own weight, limb trapping incidents, and lacerations from contact with moving parts.  All these incidents emphasize the need for much better physical safety measures to be provided on these machines wherever they are located to avoid the almost total reliance currently placed on solely following safe systems of work.

4.  Safety issues with pinspotter/pinsetter machines

4.1  Most of the pinspotter/pinsetter machines which HSE has seen do not have, by initial design, adequate safeguards to effectively prevent injury from foreseeable access for troubleshooting, cleaning, and major maintenance.  There are many moving parts from the various drive chains/belts gears and sprockets to the moving table and sweep arms and the ball return mechanisms. The hazards are not just from the various dangerous moving parts, created in the main by shearing, trapping and entanglement risks (which in certain circumstances have the potential for fatal injury), but also of serious injury from falls from a height during access on/off and to parts of the machinery (e.g. stepping into gaps that lead to the void beneath the machine).

4.2  Annex 1 summarises the main access routes on and into these machines.  Annex 2 details many known access requirements and the hazards so exposed.  It has kindly been provided to HSE to enable others in the industry to begin their own site/machine specific assessment of risk.

4.3  Some bowling centres have previously recognised these hazards and implemented various physical safety improvements which have reduced the risks, although in some cases the guarding provided has been only a partial solution, insufficiently robust, or components not specifically designed for safety have been used for safety related applications (e.g. ordinary reflecting light beams, reflectors and sensors).  Nevertheless attempts have been made and the foresight of these organisations should be recognised in considering next steps for improving safety.

4.4  Well maintained machines usually break down less often and some centres have expended considerable effort to keep their “frames per stop” at high levels in the interests of efficiency and to reduce customer dissatisfaction and cost.  Obviously the fewer interventions that need to be made, especially in a hurry, the safer a machine is and so effective preventative maintenance should be seen as part of the overall strategy for safety.  It is important too that any safety features provided are well maintained and correctly used.  For example at a few bowling centres HSE has found some electrical control boxes on the machines, with exposed live terminals inside, have not been maintained in a secure condition, and in one case a tongue-type interlocking device had been overcome by the use of a spare “tongue”.

4.5  While the machine operatives are the most at risk, particularly during the various interventions they undertake, access into the machine from “front-of-house” also presents a risk and this may involve members of the public.  Anecdotally HSE has been told of various public miss-uses from balls being thrown down the lane at operatives undertaking maintenance work in the machine to unorthodox and potentially very dangerous techniques for striking the pins.  Although the front-of-house staff can and do monitor public behaviour, in a busy centre there are limitations on what can be achieved by supervision alone and centres need to consider and manage these kinds of risks in addition to those solely from the machine itself.

4.6  HSE’s emphasis as enforcing authority for new machinery supply during the last 2-3 years since these safety issues were identified has been two fold.  Firstly in conjunction with our European Regulator colleagues to get the new machine suppliers to the point where they are supplying reasonably safe machines which take proper account of the relevant Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the European Machinery Directive, and so on installation enable bowling centres to comply with PUWER, HSW Act 1974, etc.

4.7  Secondly, in the process of achieving the above, because of the way the new safety packages can wrap around exiting machines, HSE has negotiated and sought consensus with our Local Authority and European Regulator colleagues, and the ten pin bowling industry (manufacturers, suppliers and users of these machines) reasonably practicable physical measures for improving the safety of existing machines where they are currently not safe.  This has been necessary because most existing machines were not supplied safe and in compliance with Section 6 of HSWA74, SMR, or were supplied before the 1974 Act came into effect.  The aim has been to find reasonably practicable and workable ways of meeting the requirements of PUWER, and so greatly reduce the likelihood of further serious and fatal injuries. 

4.8  In designing safety solutions for their new machines the main manufacturers Qubica AMF and Brunswick have developed and are now offering safety upgrade kits, some with additional non-safety options (see annex 3a, annex 3b, annex 3c and annex 4.  Other suppliers in the pinspotter/pinsetter machine market may be developing upgrade kits.  Some of the larger bowling centre organisations have also designed in conjunction with safety consultants sensible upgrades for their own machines.  Where carefully designed and implemented these solutions appear to represent significant and satisfactory improvements for safety on existing machines.  However, HSE does not recommend any solutions relying solely on fixed guarding as they fail to take account of the likely frequent need for access.  Users seeking further information should approach their supplier and/or others in the industry directly for up-to-date information on any upgrade or safety packages that may be available.

5.  Action required by bowling centres

5.1  To ensure adequate compliance of existing machines with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 operators of bowling centres should:

  • assess the risks site-by-site to determine the precise health and safety issues,
  • identify the most reasonable ways of managing risk,
  • and take action to reduce those risks to an acceptable level within reasonable timescales (this may require a planned phased approach taking account of technical practicability and resource availability). 

5.2  Effective health and safety is usually delivered by an integrated package of measures taking account of the hardware (guarding etc), the systems (for intervention, such as isolation) and human factors (understanding what goes on and how to minimise non-compliances).  These measures do not sit in isolation of each other and should be considered together in the assessment and management of risk.  Users and Regulators may find in addition to the hazards listing document (annex 2) the attached annex 5 helpful in auditing and assessing risk with existing installations.

5.3  Although a user may choose to adopt any off-the-shelf physical upgrade solution which may be available from the machine supplier, there is no obligation to do so.  Users are free to implement their own safety strategy, sourcing expertise and/or equipment from wherever they like, provided they meet their basic minimum legal obligations for safety.  The guidance and standards in the Bibliography at the end is provided to assist.  However it is recognised that many centres will not have the in-house technical knowledge or expertise to undertake this and will have to rely on the manufacturers or other specialist bowling machinery suppliers/refurbishers.

5.4  As mentioned above the importance of instilling appropriate attitudes, a good safety culture, providing adequate training, delivering sufficient competence, the formulation and adoption of systems of work, and supervision necessary for safety should not be overlooked in enabling these machines to be operated safely.  And all these aspects are particularly vital while any physical improvements found necessary are implemented.

5.5 Issues which should be carefully considered include:

5.5.1  Access on/off the machine:  Safe access on/in to the machines should be provided such that the Work at Height Regulations 2005 are met.  In particular steps and walkways should be suitably non slip and of sufficient size/width (taking account of any limitations imposed by existing buildings).  Where space permits angled steps are preferable.  Access routes may need to be cleaned regularly to avoid a build-up of oil (bowling lanes are regularly oiled and oil may spread to the machine steps and walkways).  Adequate fencing/hand railing should be provided and securely fixed to prevent falls which could cause injury.  Where such fencing performs the joint function of preventing access to dangerous parts it should be designed to fulfil both functions without compromise to the other.  See the Bibliography for standards that may be used to support common sense design.

5.5.2  Dangerous moving parts:  To safeguard dangerous parts, a number of additional safety features may need to be added to existing machines. These should either prevent access to dangerous parts (for example, fixed guards where frequent access is not required) or automatically render the machine safe when access is gained (for example, interlocked moveable guards).  The objective should be to provide a package of measures which obviate the total reliance on following a safe system of work, such as isolation, prior to any intervention, by appropriately preventing access to dangerous parts of the machine while it is running.

The ways in which the machine can be used or misused should be considered when selecting the most appropriate safeguarding solution.  Access to deal with regular machine blockages, pin miss-feeds, etc should normally be by means of interlocked guards that ensure dangerous parts cease moving.  Safety devices such as interlocking switches should be carefully selected and deployed taking account of human behavioural factors such that they function reliably and cannot be easily defeated or fail to danger.  Circumvention or reaching through safety guards should be prevented if dangerous parts can be accessed.  Machine start up while anyone is in the danger area should be prevented where possible by suitable and appropriate design of the safety system.

When designing safeguards, the possibility of access from one machine to another should be considered (e.g. at lane or walkway levels). This may mean that “cells” of machines need to be created with some safeguarding features that are common to all the machines in a cell. Machines at each end of a line of machines may need special consideration because of these access issues.  

Relevant European standards are listed in the Bibliography. For older installations (pre 1995), PD 5304 can be used (this was the British Standard for machinery safety prior to the full introduction of the Machinery Directive in 1995).

5.5.3  Control systems:  Where control systems are used to provide safety, for example the safety circuit of an interlocked, moveable guard, they should be designed to have sufficient integrity to ensure the reliable and dependable operation of the safety function -where existing circuits are modified, it needs to be ensured that existing safety functions are not compromised by the modifications. When programmable systems are used, for example a PLC, the integrity of the software also needs to be considered in addition to the hardware.  

Unless it can be shown that the risks from access (which include head or full body) are very low, it is suggested that where possible the safety related control function should meet Category 3 of EN 954-1:1996 (or Pl d of EN ISO 13849-1:2006 or SIL 2 of EN 62061:2005).  For pre 1995 machinery guidance on control systems safety may be found in PD 5304 Guidance on Safe Use of Machinery.

5.5.4  Emergency stops:  The emergency stop function may need supplementing with additional buttons in appropriate locations. Bowling centres should consider whether the emergency stop function should stop all machines, groups or just individual machines.  In an emergency, pressing an emergency stop that stops all machines saves time.  Emergency stop buttons should be positioned within easy reach of the operator, and any third party.

5.5.5  Access from front-of-house:  Because customers need to see the pins and bowling balls entering the machine, managing the risk of access into the machine from the lanes is more difficult.  Coupled with securing the mask (if it is moveable:  interlock, padlock or bolt down), a photoelectric beam across the front of the lane may be the best that can be achieved.  The beam should be located at a height suitable to clear the bowled ball and still ensure personnel detection. The beam also needs to be sited far enough down the lane to ensure that the machine stops before anyone can access it. Installations seen with this solution have generally “paired” the machines, but other configurations are possible. 

Photoelectric devices should be designed to BS EN 61496-1. Through beam devices, using a separate transmitter and receiver, should be used rather than retro-reflective devices because the latter are easily defeated. The devices should be carefully positioned to avoid cross talk between neighbouring installations.  Subject to the risk assessment it is suggested that here the safety related control function should meet at least Category 2 of EN 954-1, PL c of EN ISO 13849-1 or SIL 2 of EN 62061.

5.5.6   Ball return mechanisms:  At some installations trapping hazards on the ball return consoles have been identified, and the covers are easily removable. The ball return located in the public area front-of-house should be such that there are no trapping hazards between the cover and the trip switch knock out bar or fixed parts, and that the cover is secured to prevent access to any dangerous parts.

5.5.7   Machine isolation:  For maintenance, cleaning and other operations requiring longer term access to the machine, each machine should be provided with means to isolate the power supply. The means for isolation should be easily accessible, identifiable and located where its operation does not expose operators to hazards. It should also be possible to prevent inadvertent re-connection of the supply, for example by locking the means of isolation in the off position. 

Many installations currently use the blue 240V plugs for disconnection and isolation.  Lockable covers for such plugs are used by many centres.   Used in pairs these lockable covers will, subject to cable lengths, prevent reconnection of the mains power to a pair of machines.

5.5.8  Summary:  The aim of the measures applied should be to ensure that the significant risks arising from access on/off and into the machine are managed such that where possible danger is removed by stopping hazardous movement or preventing access to dangerous parts, so reducing the sole reliance for safety on training and following safe systems of work.  However, these remain important not least because it is recognised that it will take time to properly undertake and complete all the work necessary for improving safety on these machines.

6.   Timescales and support

6.1  The recent fatalities, other injury incidents, and historic failure of the machinery suppliers to fully comply with statutory requirements for the supply of safe machinery, whether new or second-hand, mean the past sole reliance on safe systems of work for safety can no longer continue. 

6.2  However, it has taken well over two years for the machine manufacturers to devise and implement reasonably satisfactory safety solutions for their new machines. The work of assessing existing installations, designing solutions, planning, costing and implementing suitable workable upgrades is not something which can be achieved overnight.  Organisations may therefore need more than a year to begin implementing physical safety improvements to their machines.  This work, starting with site specific risk assessment, should, if not already underway, be commenced.

6.3       Meanwhile to avoid injury the existing risks must be managed now to engender the right safety culture through the:

  • systematic assessment of the risk from all types of interventions,
  • adequate risk awareness and safety training (some of the larger operators have their own in-house schemes, and training is offered by others in the industry including the main machine manufacturers),
  • implementation of suitable safe systems of work for all types of intervention (the manufacturers have been reviewing the standard systems for isolation),
  • effective supervision and monitoring and review of standards achieved, and
  • clarity of expectations on all operatives, supervisors and managers at all levels for safety through the provision of unambiguous information and instruction, particularly on the priority for safety over productivity.

6.4  HSE has already suggested to those it has spoken to in the industry, including in January and November 2008 to the Ten Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association, that centre operators should now assess their situation taking account of the available information and develop an action plan considering short, medium and long term objectives, and approach their local authority to keep them informed as to progress for safety.  Much of the technical information in this circular and most of the information available in the annexes has already been made publicly available to the industry via the Ten Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association, the machine suppliers, and on request, to help the industry start this process of safety “catch up”.  Local Authorities may wish to proactively verify that bowling centres in their areas are aware of the safety issues and are taking appropriate steps to manage risk in the short, medium and longer term. 

6.5  HSE Specialists in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical & Control Systems have assisted HSE’s Product Safety Team (Southern) in examining this issue (including assisting in the investigation of the London 2006 fatality).  Most machine types and configurations, and various iterations of safety packages (for new and upgrades for existing machines) have been considered by this team.  The almost complete historic lack of physical safety measures on these machines means that significant effort, time and resource may be needed for future safety.  However, the team has been mindful all along that the primary aim has been to achieve a sensible level of safety which is workable and sustainable in the long run.  Plus there may be technical limitations as to what upgrades are possible with any particular installation, and there are potentially a number of ways of achieving a satisfactory level of safety with existing machines.  Therefore Local Authority inspectors are asked to take a carefully considered and balanced view on action plans, timescales, and any proposed enforcement.

6.6  With that in mind, and the guidance provided here, HSE may be able to provide further technical and enforcement support, particularly where no significant action has been taken to manage risk:

  • in the short term through essential “soft” management measures; and
  • in the longer term (from 2010/11 onwards) through essential physical safety improvements.

7.  Contact

For further information please contact Roger Upfold through the HSE Product Safety Unit, HSE, Priestley House, Priestley Road, Basingstoke, RG24 9NW Tel: 01256 404119 E:mail: roger.upfold@hse.gsi.gov.uk  or Safety Unit STSU, HSE, Grove House, Skerton Road, Manchester, M16 0RB Tel: 0161 952 8200.


Annex 1. AMF diagram

Annex 2 - Hazard listing

Annex 3A - Qubica AMF letter April 08

Annex 3B - QubicaAMF letter Aug 08

Annex 3C - QubicaAMF: Enhanced xl Pinspotter Safety System

Annex 4 - Brunswick GSX pinsetter MAY09 brochure

Annex 5 - Safe Interventions Questionnaire

Bibliography

Relevant legislation includes:

  • Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 1994 & 2005), which implements the Machinery Directive and is to be replaced from 29 December 2009 by the,
  • Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008  implementing the third revision of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC,
  • Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
  • Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998,
  • Work at Height Regulations 2005

Relevant Guidance and Standards include:

  • BS EN ISO 12100-1 Safety of machinery - Basic concepts, general principles for design - Part 1: Basic terminology, methodology.
  • BS EN ISO 12100-2 Safety of machinery - Basic concepts, general principles for design – Technical principles
  • BS EN ISO 14121-1 Safety of machinery - Risk assessment - Part 1: Principles.
  • BS EN 954-1 Safety of machinery - Safety related parts of control systems.

Will be withdrawn in 2009 and replaced by,

  • BS EN ISO 13849-1 Safety of machinery - Safety related parts of control systems.
  • BS EN 62061 Safety of machinery – Functional Safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems.
  • BS EN  60204-1 Safety of machinery – Electrical equipment of machines – Part1: General requirements.
  • BS EN 999 Safety of machinery – The positioning of protective equipment in respect of approach speeds of parts of the human body.   Under revision, to be BS EN ISO 13855
  • BS EN 1088 Safety of machinery – Interlocking devices associated with guards. Principles for design and selection.
  • BS EN 61496-1 Safety of machinery – Electro sensitive protective equipment – Part 1: General requirements and tests.
  • BS EN ISO 13850 Safety of machinery – Emergency stop equipment – Functional aspects and principles for design.
  • BS EN 953 Safety of machinery – Guards. General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards.
  • BS EN 294 Safety of machinery – Safety distances to prevent danger zones from being reached by the upper limbs.  Now replaced by BS EN ISO 13857
  • BS EN 811 Safety of machinery – Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by the lower limbs.  Now replaced by BS EN ISO 13857
  • BS EN ISO 13857: 2008 Safety of machinery –  Safety distances to prevent hazard zones being reached by upper and lower limbs
  • BS EN ISO 14122-1:2001 Safety of machinery – Permanent means of access to machinery Part 1: Choice of a fixed means of access between two levels.
  • BS EN ISO 14122-2:2001 Safety of machinery – Permanent means of access to machinery Part 2: Working platforms and walkways.
  • BS EN ISO 14122-3:2001 Safety of machinery – Permanent means of access to machinery Part 3: Stairways, stepladders and guard-rails.
  • BS EN ISO 14122-4:2004 Safety of machinery – Permanent means of access to machinery Part 4: Fixed ladders.
  • PD 5304: 2005 Guidance on Safe Use of Machinery  previously BS 5304 Code of Practice for the Safety of Machinery (relevant for pre-1995 machinery).

Health & Safety Executive publications are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA. Tel: 01787 881165.

British and European Standards are available from BSI 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL Tel: 020 8996 9001 http://www.bsi-global.com/en/

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