Converting Magazine

Mark Spaulding

Is your converting machinery safe?
August 11, 2008

Oct. 25 is an important deadline for our OEM-supplier base. That's the date that the new ANSI/PMMI B155.1 standard will apply to all packaging and related converting machinery.

According to Rockwell Automation, the requirements introduced in 2006 include the risk-assessment standard (ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006) to help machine builders identify safeguarding requirements and define the required control circuit architecture and safety performance level. The standard is not a regulation, however compliance with it can help machine builders take proactive steps to reduce risks to an acceptable level over the lifecycle of the machinery as well as document the risk assessment process. 

Some of the safety-related objectives include:

1. Arc Flash: Help reduce the risk of employee injury from electrical arc flash/blast and the resulting release of dangerous levels of heat energy, fire, molten materials, vaporized solids that can be inhaled, flying shrapnel, and rapid expansion of air, all capable of causing severe and sometimes fatal injuries. 

2. CE Mark Conformity: Meet all applicable CE marking directives before sale in the European Union, including issuance of a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) indicating conformity of the referenced product to the listed provisions of application directives and standards.

3. Safety System Validation: Validating that a safety system performs to meet design requirements helps avoid unexpected problems. Comprehensive tests and analysis to help provide proper system installation and functionality by evaluating circuit performance, fault tolerance, fault action, software logic, device application, device function and reset actions for all modes of operation.

4. Safety Circuit Analysis: Verifies that safety circuit design meets applicable standards, such as EN-954 Category B,1,2,3 or 4, ANSI B11.TR3 Control Reliable, Single Channel with monitoring, Single Channel or others. 

5. Safety Systems Design and Integration: A turnkey safety solution encompasses a wide selection of machine safety components and services, including project management, system architecture design, panel design, material procurement (including third-party hardguarding products), assembly, software development, hardware/software integration testing, factory acceptance and startup assistance.

6. Hazard Assessment: Identifies safeguarding deficiencies and recommends a machine guarding solution compliant with current safety standards and designed to meet production and maintenance needs.

7. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Assessment: Complete analysis of a system with recommendations for training, marking/labeling, and hardware to improve the LOTO process.

8. Machine Stop-Time Analysis: Stop-time measurements and safe distance calculations to assure compliancy of light curtain, two-hand control, area scanners and safety mat installations. They will also help to determine ergonomic and operational advantages of safeguarding options.

Is your converting machinery safe and up to snuff on the B155.1 standard? Need some help? Go to this link to learn more about a Rockwell Automation machine-safety seminar.

Posted by Mark Spaulding on August 11, 2008 | Comments (0)