WCA May/July 2020

Technology news

Securing a safe working environment

Workplace safety is a requirement when creating a healthy and stable work environment for all employees. Companies must eliminate potential hazards and follow standards and safety rules to ensure the wellbeing of their workers. Manufacturers also have a responsibility for machine operation safety and to make sure that equipment is in accordance with security standards. At Sweden-based wire machinery manufacturer Lämneå Bruk, a safety-first policy is implemented in all aspects of work: not only in its own workshop, but also for the machines it builds and delivers to international customers, safety is essential. The family-owned business uses an advanced procedure to ensure that all machines fulfil the latest European safety standards, and conducts a thorough three-step risk analysis to eliminate potential dangers.

The first step starts early in the design process of each machine, to avoid possible hazards and risks with a safe design and/or by adding features to eliminate or reduce the anticipated risk. This includes identifying the source of risks (eg moving a spool); the risk situation and what could happen; possible effects if risk occurs; risk exposure; probability of risk occurring; and the possibility to avoid the risk. After identifying these risk factors, the Lämneå Bruk team evaluates current and new safety measures, and estimates and assesses the listed points again. In the second step, all technical components of the machine undergo a thorough examination. Each machine is divided into safety functions, and these are again split into subsystems where each safety component is mathematically evaluated. Safety evaluation software then creates a complete report describing the different safety functions and the outcome of the mathematical evaluation. This report forms the basis for the continued safety work on the machine and determines which safety components should be used. In the third and final step, each safety component is tested and checked extensively. A detailed document outlines the exact test result to ensure safety standards according to European laws and beyond for the machines, customers and operators. The safety evaluation software automatically generates a test protocol. During the commissioning phase, the on-site engineer signs off the functionality of every safety component in each subsystem to ensure that the machine is safe to operate before it goes into production. Lämneå Bruk AB www.lamnea.se

❍ Safety evaluation software creates a complete report of the safety functions

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Wire & Cable ASIA – May/July 2020