Product category:
Machine Safety Components
News Release from: Pilz Automation Technology | Subject: Safety consultancy
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 27 February 2004
Clarks uses consultants for risk
assessments
Clarks, one of the world's leading and best-known shoe brands, has recently used Pilz specialist knowledge and experience in assessing various machines and work equipment.
Clarks, one of the world's leading and best-known shoe brands, has recently used Pilz specialist knowledge and experience in assessing various machines and work equipment The C and J Clark group of companies (in existence for 178 years) is still family-owned, and senior management take their safety responsibilities extremely seriously
As an example of this, Clarks requested Pilz Automation Technology to assist it with undertaking risk assessments on machinery operating in four of its UK sites.
This work has been extended to include an assessment of work equipment, and in particular, conveyor systems, at its distribution centre in Street, Somerset.
Further inspections and assessments are also scheduled for another Clarks factory.
Initially the company put some of its own engineers through a Pilz training course in risk assessment and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) with a view to carrying out the assessments in-house.
However, the scale of the task resulted in much of the work being performed with Pilz engineers.
So far over 50 machines have been assessed and recommendations made to help Clarks fulfil its obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the PUWER-98 regulations.
Most of the machinery has been assessed as being BS EN954-1 Category 2, though some of the more hazardous equipment has been found to be Category 3.
The type of machinery inspected has ranged from simple industrial sewing machines to sophisticated automated machining centres for producing wooden shoe lasts.
At the end of each assessment, the Pilz engineer prepared a comprehensive PUWER inspection report detailing findings and making recommendations.
Moreover, where appropriate, the reports included additional data such as contact details for sourcing more information or specific standards (such as BS EN60204-31:1998, Safety of machinery.
Electrical equipment of machines.
Particular safety and EMC requirements for sewing machines, units and systems).
Pilz was also able to put Clarks in touch with manufacturers of guarding for those machines where additional protective measures were deemed to be necessary.
As part of Clarks' ongoing training programme, the Pilz engineer was accompanied by Clarks engineers during many of the assessments to facilitate future PUWER inspections being carried out in-house when feasible.
Stephen Clare, Health and Safety Manager, comments: "The Pilz specialists have been highly professional and extremely thorough.
Their reports are always comprehensive and are invaluable in helping us to make improvements where required - rather than simply highlighting any shortcomings, the reports point the way towards cost-effective solutions".
In fact most of the recommendations centred on training and guarding, with few machines needing modifications to the safety-related control systems.
Nonetheless, Pilz is ideally suited to performing this type of assessment due to their vast experience of different types of machinery.
Stephen Clare concludes: "Although we probably could have completed the inspections and assessments without the support of Pilz, it would have taken far longer due to our engineers' other commitments.
Also, a 'fresh pair of eyes' invariably sees things that might be overlooked by someone very familiar with the equipment.
From the perspective of employee safety, I am certain that we did the right thing in asking Pilz to assist us with this daunting task".
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