BS EN ISO 13857:2019 - Safety of Machinery

Standard Number: BS EN ISO 13857:2019

Pages: 32

Released: 2019-11-05

ISBN: 978 0 580 97941 5

Status: Standard

Overview

The BS EN ISO 13857:2019 standard is an essential document for anyone involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of machinery. It provides comprehensive guidelines on safety distances to prevent hazard zones from being reached by upper and lower limbs, ensuring the safety and well-being of operators and workers in industrial environments.

Purpose and Importance

In the fast-paced world of industrial machinery, safety is paramount. The BS EN ISO 13857:2019 standard serves as a critical tool in safeguarding workers from potential injuries caused by machinery. By establishing clear safety distances, this standard helps to minimize the risk of accidents, thereby promoting a safer working environment.

With the increasing complexity of machinery, the need for standardized safety measures has never been more crucial. This standard provides a reliable framework that manufacturers and safety engineers can rely on to ensure that machinery is designed and operated with the highest safety standards in mind.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Guidelines: The standard offers detailed instructions on determining safety distances, taking into account various factors such as the type of machinery, its operation, and the potential risks involved.
• Applicability: It is applicable to a wide range of machinery across different industries, making it a versatile tool for ensuring safety in diverse settings.
• Up-to-date Information: Released on November 5, 2019, this standard reflects the latest advancements and best practices in machinery safety.
• International Recognition: As part of the ISO standards, it is recognized and respected globally, facilitating international trade and cooperation.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS EN ISO 13857:2019 standard is indispensable for:

• Machinery Designers and Engineers: To ensure that new machinery designs comply with the latest safety requirements.
• Safety Inspectors and Auditors: To assess existing machinery and ensure ongoing compliance with safety standards.
• Manufacturers: To integrate safety measures into the production process, reducing the risk of accidents and liability.
• Health and Safety Professionals: To develop and implement safety protocols that protect workers from harm.

Benefits of Compliance

Adhering to the BS EN ISO 13857:2019 standard offers numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced Safety: By establishing clear safety distances, the risk of accidents and injuries is significantly reduced.
• Legal Compliance: Compliance with this standard helps organizations meet legal and regulatory requirements, avoiding potential fines and legal issues.
• Improved Reputation: Companies that prioritize safety are viewed more favorably by clients, partners, and employees, enhancing their reputation in the industry.
• Operational Efficiency: A safer working environment leads to fewer disruptions, lower absenteeism, and increased productivity.

Conclusion

The BS EN ISO 13857:2019 standard is a vital resource for ensuring the safety of machinery and protecting workers from potential hazards. By providing clear guidelines on safety distances, it helps organizations create safer working environments, comply with legal requirements, and enhance their overall operational efficiency. Whether you are a designer, manufacturer, or safety professional, this standard is an invaluable tool in your safety toolkit.

BS EN ISO 13857:2019

This standard BS EN ISO 13857:2019 Safety of machinery. Safety distances to prevent hazard zones being reached by upper and lower limbs is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.110 Safety of machinery

This document establishes values for safety distances in both industrial and non-industrial environments to prevent machinery hazard zones being reached. The safety distances are appropriate for protective structures. It also gives information about distances to impede free access by the lower limbs (see Annex B).

This document covers people of 14 years and older (the 5th percentile stature of 14-year-olds is approximately 1 400 mm). In addition, for upper limbs only, it provides information for children older than 3 years (5th percentile stature of 3-year-olds is approximately 900 mm) where reaching through openings needs to be addressed.

Data for preventing lower limb access for children is not considered.

The distances apply when sufficient risk reduction can be achieved by distance alone. Because safety distances depend on size, some people of extreme dimensions will still be able to reach hazard zones even when the requirements of this document are met.

Compliance with the requirements in this document will prevent access to the hazard zone. Nevertheless the user of this document is advised that it does not provide the required risk reduction for every hazard (e.g. hazards related to machine emissions such as ionizing radiation, heat sources, noise, dust).

The clauses covering lower limbs apply on their own only when access by the upper limbs to the same hazard zone is not foreseeable according to the risk assessment.

The safety distances are intended to protect those persons trying to reach hazard zones under the conditions specified (see 4.1.1).