No escape from EMC regulations
A
Laidler Associates product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 11, 2003
The issue of compliance with the EMC Directive when CE marking a machine has always been a grey area.
Laidler Associates recently contacted the HSE to gain advice regarding compliance with the EMC Directive when CE marking a machine.
A client had raised the issue of whether EMC testing was necessary, as the company had received conflicting advice from a fellow consultancy.
The issue of compliance with the EMC Directive when CE marking a machine has always been a grey area.
However, a recent statement from the HSE's Electrical and Control Systems Unit clarifies the matter.
"In most situations, it would be necessary to undertake testing as part of compliance with the Machinery Directive, and hence the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations".
The HSE point of view relates to Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which places duties on manufacturers etc regarding articles for use at work, including: "The duty to carry out such testing and examination as may be necessary to ensure that the article is so designed and constructed that it will, so far as is reasonably practicable, be safe and without risks to health".
The HSE feels that testing would only be considered not "reasonably practicable" if the cost for testing were "grossly disproportionate" to the reduction in risk.
"Laidler Associates have always prided themselves on giving the best and most correct advice possible", said Paul Laidler, Managing Director of Laidler Associates.
"This matter raises again the issue of the competence of consultants.
If a company is using a consultant, are they getting the best advice or the best cost? Competence isn't necessarily expensive, but a lack of competence could be.
As the saying goes, 'If you think health and safety is expensive, wait until you have an accident'".
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