Machine building

CE marking

Hazardous machinery: 'Annex IV machines'

Some machinery is hazardous to work with. Examples include a chainsaw or the compaction system of a refuse collection vehicle. Annex IV of the Machinery Directive sets out which machinery this concerns. Stricter conformity assessment procedures apply to this machinery.

Type C standards have been developed for some of this machinery. They are a tool for meeting the statutory requirements. If a manufacturer can show that the hazardous machinery meets this standard and that the standard covers all the machinery's risks, the manufacturer may produce it.

If there is no type C standard for the hazardous machinery, or if the machinery has risks that are not covered by the standard, the manufacturer must first have it assessed to check whether it meets the requirements of the Machinery Directive. This EC type-examination is carried out by a European conformity assessment body (EU-CAB). The manufacturer may also choose to have full quality assurance carried out instead of an EC type-examination. In this procedure, an EU-CAB carries out a thorough check of the design and production process of the machine, among other things.

Work-related accidents involving machinery

A machine is involved in about 1 in 5 work-related accidents (Dutch) in the Netherlands. This is because the machine is not used in the correct way (Dutch), is used for something other than the purpose for which it was made, or has not been properly designed. These accidents often result in serious and permanent injury.

Shared responsibility

Several parties are involved in making machines, each with their own responsibilities:

• A manufacturer that makes machines for the European market must ensure that they meet European requirements. If they do, the manufacturer affixes a CE marking to them. 
• An authorised representative is established in the EEA and can be appointed by a manufacturer, usually from outside the EEA, to ensure on the manufacturer’s behalf that machines meet European requirements.
• A European Conformity Assessment Body (EU-CAB) assesses whether hazardous machinery described in Annex IV to the Machinery Directive meets European requirements.
• The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment designates the EU-CABs in the Netherlands.
• The Accreditation Council assesses whether the EU-CABs meet the European standards for inspection bodies.
• The employer purchases a machine that meets the requirements. This can be seen from the CE marking and the machine’s documentation. The employer ensures that the machine is kept in good condition: no unsafe modifications are made to it, and the machine is regularly maintained and inspected.
• The employee uses the machine for the purpose for which it was made and in the intended way. This is specified in the user manual.
• The Netherlands Labour Authority monitors whether the system that safeguards the requirements for machines intended for the professional market functions properly in the Netherlands. It also carries out inspections and investigates work-related accidents in which machines have played a role.
• The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority supervises machines intended for the consumer market.

Risks, approach and impact

If you want to know more about the risks identified by the Labour Authority, its approach to those risks and the impact of that approach, see the page Machine building: risks, approach and impact.