Warning: guard imported machinery or end up in court

Depending on how machinery is used either as a standalone item or as part of a processing line different levels of guarding are required, said Tony Reynolds, a compliance consultant for engineering design and project management company Lorien Engineering. However, many companies are often unaware of this fact, claimed Reynolds.

"A lot of firms have good health and safety in terms of employee protection and workplace safety, but very few have any understanding of machine safety," said Reynolds. Lorien cites Health and Safety Executive figures, which show that machinery and plant cause over 30% of fatal and 10% of major injuries in the food and drink sector.

Standalone equipment, such as bread slicing machines, fall under controls covered by a 'declaration of conformity' which aims to ensure they meet safety requirements as supplied.

However, a lot of equipment needs a 'declaration of incorporation', which covers kit that will form part of a process line, said Reynolds. This might be a conveyor where additional guarding and emergency stops may have to be considered when it is installed as part of a 'complex' line. This sort of equipment is now covered by the new Machinery Directive, which came into force at the end of last year.

Many end users are also not aware of legislation that applies to the safe use of equipment, said Reynolds. This includes a requirement that they carry out safety assessments under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations, even though these have been in force for years.

While equipment manufactured across the EU is designed to 'harmonised European standards' of equipment safety, said Reynolds, he accepted that "guarding can be a little bit subjective. You do tend to find the UK guards things quite well, compared with Germany" .

Potentially dangerous food machinery was raised at Food Manufacture's Risk Management round table in February. R&R Ice Cream's group HR director Peter Pickthall said imported machinery whose guarding did not comply with UK health and safety was "causing huge problems".