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News Release from: Siemens Automation and Drives
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 02 October 2007
Seminars boost safety knowledge
Industry specialists, Siemens Automation and Drives, are providing as series of free breakfast seminars across the UK in order to raise awareness of increasing safety legislation.
Siemens Automation and Drives is providing a series of free breakfast seminars across the UK to raise awareness of increasing safety legislation The introduction of new safety standards such as EN-62061 and ISO13849 and the impending launch of the New Machinery Directive in 2009 have sparked significant concern across the UK engineering industry about health and safety responsibilities and safety design issues
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 6 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Rob Sharrock, Business Manager at Siemens Automation and Drives, said: "It is essential that companies gain a complete understanding of the new safety demands which are being placed upon them".
"There are a number of significant changes in engineering safety protocol, particularly concerning the design and management of individual safety systems".
"The responsibility is now being placed on manufacturers, designers and suppliers to provide hard evidence and mathematical proof that health and safety procedures have been followed and are fully validated".
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"As well as the requirement for a thorough risk assessment, there is now a demand for engineering documentation concerning the selection of products, implementation of the product and final validation of these products".
The breakfast seminars have been designed to include both theoretical and practical elements which will not only raise awareness of the new legislation, but also show that compliance through integration, although essential, does not have to be a demanding, costly or complicated process.
Topics covered during the seminars will include ISO13849 and IEC62061 legislation, safety drives, network safety including F-Link and Profinet Safe, and safety devices including sensors and relays.
Delegates will also be presented with a Safety Starter Pack, with advice and information on safety standards and technology along with software worth over GBP 500.
Sharrock continued: "Not complying with the new and upcoming legislative requirements will produce far more serious consequences than addressing the issues now".
"It can no longer be a case that companies simply stick their heads in the sand".
"We unfortunately work in a 'blame culture' environment and companies must ensure that directives are met in order to protect themselves and their workers".
"We want to show that, although there is now a heightened dependence on safety policies, audit trails and written evidence, it does not have to be an administrative burden which dominates management and design procedures".
The seminars will take place at Blackburn on 2nd October, Strathclyde on 4th October, Gloucestershire on 13th November and Milton Keynes on 15th November.
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