KANBrief 3/10
Owing to the high accident rate on channel baling presses, OSH representatives called in 2006 for a standard supporting the safety requirements of the Machinery Directive to be developed for these machines (see also KANBrief 3/08). Three standards, for different types of presses, are now being formulated in a project committee set up by CEN. The draft standard for horizontal baling presses will be presented shortly for public enquiry.
Channel baling presses are used to compress recyclable or waste materials into bales in order to simplify storage and transport. Serious and in some cases fatal accidents repeatedly occur, particularly during the clearing of faults. In order for safety to be enhanced during work on such presses, the materials handling and warehousing technology expert committee of the German Social Accident Insurance formulated a proposal for a machine safety standard. The proposal reflected comprehensive experience gained by further European OSH institutes, particularly in France and the United Kingdom (UK) (see also KANBrief 4/06). The CEN members accepted the application for standardization at the beginning of 2009. CEN charged project committee CEN/TC 397, created specifically for the purpose, with the task of developing the standard.
CEN/TC 397
The project committee comprises representatives from 15 countries. At the very first session, the experts stated clearly that besides horizontal baling presses, other forms of recyclable material presses also exhibited high accident rates and should be governed by product-specific standards. These are baling presses in which the compression plate moves vertically, and compactors, in which the material is compacted into a connected container. Since all three types of machine exhibit particular hazards of their own, three project teams (PTs) were formed, each with the task of developing a separate standard for the relevant press type.
Vertical baling presses (PT 1)
Project Team 1 is dealing with vertical baling presses which are loaded either manually or automatically. The bales may also be tied either manually or automatically. The experts’ work is based upon the phrasing of the working draft for horizontal baling presses, with incorporation of the hazards peculiar to vertical presses. Plans are for the project team to present a draft standard (prEN) for public enquiry at the beginning of 2011. In line with this schedule, publication of a European standard could be expected at the beginning of 2013.
Horizontal baling presses (PT 2)
This type of baling press originally prompted the application for standardization. The work in Project Team 2 has therefore already reached an advanced stage. In July 2010, CEN/TC 397 agreed to publish the draft document for the purpose of the public enquiry, which is expected to run until May 2011. The final standard is to be published in the autumn of 2012.
The manufacturers, operators and OSH experts involved are in agreement that the standard delivers a substantial improvement in user safety over the existing level. Guards are a requirement at all points of access to danger zones. Particular importance has been attached to preventing persons from accessing the press area. In the past, this had often been the cause of fatal accidents.
Compactors (PT 3)
Project Team 3 is addressing presses which compact the material into a connected, interchangeable container. Particular attention is being paid with this press design to the danger zone at the intake funnel; accidents repeatedly occur here when users attempt to clear blockages. As with the vertical presses, work on this standardization project has only just begun. A draft for the public enquiry is expected at the beginning of 2011, and publication of the standard at the end of 2012.
Experience and participation is desired
All three draft standards are at a stage at which they can still be influenced. Anyone familiar with these machines should make use of the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience to the standardization process and to improve the text of the standard. The contact here is the national mirror committee to CEN/ TC 397. For Germany, this is the “Baling presses - Safety requirements” working committee (NA 060-03-30 AA) in the Mechanical Engineering standards committee.
Dr. Michael Thierbach
thierbach@kan.de