EN ISO 12100 - Safety of machinery - General principles for design - Risk assessment and risk reduction
EN ISO 12100 is the fundamental technical standard for the safe design of machinery. It provides a structured method for identifying hazards, assessing risks and selecting protective measures to be taken during the design and construction of any machine.
Aim
Establish a unified methodology to ensure security:
- from the initial design to the final realisation of the machine;
- in compliance with the essential requirements of European directives (e.g. Machinery Directive or Reg. 2023/1230).
Scope of Application
Applicable to any type of machine or almost-machine, regardless of complexity or sector, including:
- motorised gates;
- automatic doors;
- automation lines and integrated systems.
Main contents
Stages of risk assessment:
- Identification of hazards (mechanical, electrical, thermal, etc.);
- Estimation of probability and severity of damage;
- Definition of protective measures (constructive, technical, informative);
- Hierarchy of protective measures;
- Eliminating the hazard at source;
- Reducing the risk through technical protections;
- Information, warnings, instructions.
N.B. The standard is type A, therefore transversal and applicable to all categories of machines.