PPL May June 2023 PT - Flipbook - Page 13
Pulp Paper & Logistics
personnel and the surrounding
environment
l A safe machine is the basis for
a reliable process to create
maximum output
l A safe machine is obligatory to
fulfill legal requirements.
“The first and most fundamental
of our principles when supplying
tissue technology is that obviously
we don’t want any operators
to be hurt,” continues Nager.
“The second is reliability and
machine performance, and third
on the list is regulations and legal
requirements.”
“Currently, European safety
standards are the most detailed
for tissue making and finishing
machines. The basis for Andritz
ANDRITZ 11
Thomas Nager, machine safety expert at Andritz
machines is the risk assessment
in combination with the
standards. For the European
market, additionally, the Machine
Directive, as well as the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
(EMC), Low Voltage Directive (LVD)
and Pressure Equipment Directive
(PED) and their harmonised
standards must be fulfilled.
Products in compliance with these
directives are identified by the CE
mark (Conformité Européenne)
which signifies that the products
sold have been assessed to meet
the legal requirements for health
and safety.”
Andritz already communicates
with the customer in the sales
phase about the implications of
the risk assessment and the most
advantageous route to take.
Nager explains: “There are
always discussions early on about
the CE mark for the European
market, and whether, for
instance, the whole plant must
have a CE mark, or individual
machines only. As an example, a
tissue machine needs a CE mark
of its own, as does a pressure
vessel such as a Yankee. Andritz’s
advice is to have individual CE
marks, as updating in the future
tends to be easier and more
flexible than with a mark covering
the whole plant, even if it is
not necessary according to the
machine directive.”.
In addition to CE markings on
newly-supplied machines, Andritz
provides audits on older machines
to ensure that they comply
with the current regulations.
Furthermore, safety advice will be
issued if it comes to major rebuild
projects.
Other countries and regions
also have their own conformity
markings including the USA and
Canada (e.g. UL for electrical
components), China (e.g. CCC) and
Russia and Eurasia (e.g. EAC).
“Of course all additional
requirements in any given country
or region will be respected
and taken into account when
delivering Andritz tissue
machines,” adds Nager.
Under the European Machine
Directive, which is the legal basis
for machine safety in Europe,
every machine that is placed
on the market must have a risk
assessment which is the core tool
to ensure that safety has been
seriously taken into account. This
means identifying where any
hazard areas may occur and taking
defined steps to make those areas
safe.
“This is not simply a case of
ticking boxes,” says Nager. “This
really is about reducing risks in the
work environment, often in tight
spaces. For example, it is quite
common in the tissue industry
for space to be a problem, and
squeezing a machine into a
tight area. If this happens, it
is particularly challenging that
people are kept at a safe distance
away from the hazardous areas.
“We are working closely with
our customers to improve the
safety of their tissue production
process, for example: Which safety
elements need to be eliminated
or by-passed; which kind of
smart solutions can we offer or
develop conjointly to create a safe
environment?”
The ABC of safety on
Andritz tissue machines
The risk assessment ensures that
nothing is left out or forgotten
when it comes to all aspects
of safety on tissue machines.
Andritz realizes this with its high
competence in various fields, fully
understanding the mechanical
demands and with all process
know-how in house. This involves
making a list of all important
factors relating to risk on a tissue
machine and defining measures
how to mitigate these risks.
“These standards are split into
A-, B-, and C-standards” explains
Nager. “A-standards are general
safety related standards, such as
ISO 12100 which defines what
a risk assessment must contain;
B-standards are more precise,
related to different types of risk
and C-standards which break the
safety topic down to individual
components such as tissue making
equipment.
“This is complex and difficult to
do. However this long list ensures
that every area is covered, and no
part of the machine or process is
left out or forgotten.”
But essentially making tissue
machines safe is not all about
lists and standards. Ultimately,
the aim is to identify any risk
area and make it as safe as
possible while at the same time
allowing full and maximum
efficiency of production to take
May/June 2023