Repeat performance for machine safety seminar

A British Automation and Robotics Association product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 27, 2004

Following the overwhelming success of its first Machine Safety Seminar, BARA, the British Automation and Robotics Association, is running the event again on 8th September 2004.

Following the overwhelming success of its first Machine Safety Seminar, BARA, the British Automation and Robotics Association, is running the event again on 8th September 2004.

This will take place from 1000 to 1530 BST at the International Manufacturing Centre, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick.

It is aimed at managers and engineers responsible for machine safety within their work environment, designers of safety control circuits, and those responsible for ensuring that machinery meets current safety regulations.

Dr Richard Piggin, Chairman of BARA's Safety SIG (special interest group), comments: "The first seminar in July was oversubscribed, and the feedback received from delegates was extremely positive".

"We have therefore decided to run the seminar again in September, with the same formula of classroom sessions and demonstrations of live automation cells".

John Madden, Principal Inspector from the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), will discuss machine safety standards and legislation.

Other seminar sessions will be led by experienced experts from industry, with time available for questions and answers.

Because the event is located at the International Manufacturing Centre, practical demonstrations take place using live automated manufacturing cells.

Starting with an introduction to CE marking and PUWER, the seminar goes on to show how the Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the Machinery Directive are applied to an automation cell.

Staying with the cell, delegates see how the most commonly encountered EN standards are applied.

Risk assessment methods are then discussed and a practical exercise is undertaken with an automation cell.

After that, guarding standards are considered and the automation cell is used to demonstrate how the standards are applied in a real-life situation.

In addition to the classroom sessions and practical demonstrations, the seminar provides an opportunity for delegates to discuss specific problems with experts from several leading suppliers of automation and machinery safety equipment.

Dr Ken Young, Chairman of BARA, says: "Safety is an integral part of robotics and automation, so we are very pleased to be able to offer this seminar with the support of Bosch Rexroth, Fortress Interlocks, Pilz and Procter Machinery Guarding - all of whom are recognised as leaders in their respective fields".

"For engineers and managers who are either new to the field of machinery safety or who feel they need to bring their knowledge up-to-date, this event is ideal".

Dr Richard Piggin adds: "Delegates from the first seminar told us that they liked the coverage of guarding, robots and Category 3 and 4 applications".

"In addition, the package of legislative and standards information was widely appreciated, and the use of automation cells to give practical examples of how to do things went down very well indeed".

The cost of the course is just GBP 50 per delegate, which includes a buffet lunch, light refreshments and a seminar manual.

Registration forms can be downloaded directly from the "Events" section of the BARA website.