3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C29/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
relating to machinery 
COM(87) 564 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 22 December 1987) 
(88/C 29/01) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100A 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
(1) Whereas Member States have the responsibility of 
ensuring the health and safety on their territory of 
their people and, where appropriate, of domestic 
animals and goods and, in particular, of workers 
notably in relation to the hazards arising out of the use 
of machinery; 
(2) Whereas, in the Member States, the legislative systems 
regarding accident prevention are very different; 
whereas the relevant compulsory provisions, 
frequently supplemented by de facto mandatory 
technical specifications and/or voluntary standards, 
do not necessarily lead to different levels of health and 
safety, but nevertheless, owing to their disparities, 
constitute barriers to trade within the Community; 
whereas, furthermore, conformity certification and 
national certification systems for machinery differ 
considerably; 
(3) Whereas existing national health and safety provisions 
providing protection against the hazards caused by 
machinery must be approximated to ensure free 
movement of machinery without lowering existing 
justified levels of protection in the Member States; 
whereas the provisions of this Directive concerning 
the design and construction of machinery, shall be 
accompanied by specific provisions concerning the 
prevention of certain hazards to which workers can be 
exposed at work, as well as by provisions, based on Article 118A of the Treaty, regarding the use of 
machinery and organization of safety of workers in 
the working environment; 
(4) Whereas the machinery sector is an important part of 
the engineering industry and is one of the industrial 
mainstays of the Community economy; 
(5) Whereas paragraphs 65 and 68 of the White Paper on 
the completion of the internal market, approved by 
the European Council in June 1985, provide for a new 
approach to legislative harmonization; 
(6) Whereas the social cost of the large number of 
accidents caused directly by the use of machinery can 
be reduced by inherently safe design and construction 
of machinery and by proper installation and mainten­
ance; 
(7) Whereas the field of application of the Directive must 
be based on a general definition of the term 
'machinery' so as to allow the technical development 
of products; whereas the development of 'complex 
installations' and the hazards they involve are of an 
equivalent nature and their express inclusion in the 
Directive is therefore justified; 
(8) Whereas it is now envisaged to draw up specific 
Directives containing design and construction provi­
sions for certain categories of machinery; whereas the 
very broad scope of the Directive must be limited in 
relation to these Directives and also existing Directives 
where they contain design and construction provi­
sions; 
(9) Whereas Community law, in its present form, 
provides — by derogation to one of the fundamental 
No C 29/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
rules of the Community, namely the free movement of 
goods — that obstacles to movement within the 
Community, resulting from disparities in national 
legislation relating to the marketing of products, must 
be accepted in so far as such requirements can be 
recognized as being necessary to satisfy imperative 
requirements; whereas, therefore, the harmonization 
of laws in this case must be limited only to those 
requirements necessary to satisfy the imperative 
requirements and essential health and safety require­
ments relating to machinery; whereas these require­
ments must replace relevant national requirements 
because they are essential; 
(10) Whereas the essential health and safety requirements 
must be observed in order to ensure that machinery is 
safe; wheres these requirements must be applied with 
discernment to take account of the state of the art at 
the time of construction and technical and economic 
requirements; 
(11) Whereas the use of machinery within the meaning of 
this Directive can relate only to the use of the 
machinery itself as intended by the manufacturer; 
whereas this does not preclude the laying down of 
conditions of use external to the machinery, provided 
that it is not therefore modified in a way not specified 
in this Directive; 
(12) Whereas, for trade fairs, exhibitions, etc. it must be 
possible to exhibit demonstration machinery which, 
for the needs of the demonstration, do not conform to 
the Directive; whereas, however, the persons con­
cerned should be properly informed of such non­
conformity and that such machinery cannot be 
purchased in that condition; 
(13) Whereas, therefore, this Directive defines only the 
essential health and safety requirements of general 
application, supplemented by a number of more 
specific requirements for certain categories of ma­
chinery ; whereas, in order to help manufacturers to 
prove conformity to these essential requirements, it is 
desirable to have standards harmonized at European 
level for prevention of hazards arising out of the 
design and construction of machinery and in order to 
allow conformity to the essential requirements to be 
inspected; whereas these standards harmonized at 
European level are drawn up by private-law bodies 
and must retain their non-binding status; whereas, for 
this purpose, the European Committee for Standardi­
zation (CEN) and the European Committee for 
Electrotechnical Standardization (Cenelec) are the 
bodies recognized as competent to adopt harmonized 
standards in accordance with the general guidelines 
for cooperation between the Commission and these 
two bodies signed in 13 November 1984; whereas, 
within the meaning of this Directive, a harmonized 
standard is a technical specification (European 
standard or harmonization document) adopted by either or both of these bodies, on the basis of a remit 
from the Commission in accordance with the provi­
sions of Council Directive 83/189/EEC of 28 March 
1983 laying down a procedure for the provision of 
information in the field of technical standards and 
regulations (') and on the basis of the general 
guidelines referred to above; 
(14) Whereas, while awaiting the adoption of harmonized 
standards within the meaning of this Directive, 
conformity to the essential requirements and the free 
movement of machinery should be facilitated by the 
acceptance, at Community level, of products conform­
ing to the national standards adopted, on a temporary 
basis, with the aid of a Community checking 
procedure to ensure that national standards satisfy the 
essential requirements of this Directive; whereas to 
this end, in view of the general and horizontal role of 
the committee set up by Article 5 of Directive 83/189/ 
EEC in Community standardization policy, and more 
particularly its role in the preparation of standardi­
zation remits and the operation of the standstill 
procedure in European and national standardization, 
that committee was set up in order to assist the 
Commission in carrying out Community checks of the 
conformity of national standards; whereas both sides 
of industry must be properly consulted, particularly 
labour organizations concerning the standardization 
and management work relating to this Directive; 
(15) Whereas, as is currently the practice in Member States, 
manufacturers should retain the responsibility for 
certifying the conformity of their machinery to the 
relevant essential requirements; whereas conformity 
to harmonized standards creates a presumption of 
conformity to the relevant essential requirements; 
whereas it is left to the sole discretion of the 
manufacturer, where he feels the need, to have his 
products examined and certified by a third party; 
(16) Whereas it is necessary not only to ensure free 
movement, putting into service and use of machinery 
bearing the EC mark and having an EC conformity 
certificate; whereas it is necessary to ensure free 
movement of machinery not bearing the EC mark 
where it is to be incorporated into other machinery or 
assembled with other machinery to form a complex 
installation; whereas nevertheless such machinery 
cannot be put into service or use until it has been 
certified for conformity since, in the absence of the EC 
mark, it must be regarded as not ready for use; 
(17) Whereas the Member States' responsibility for safety, 
health and the other aspects covered by the essential 
requirements on their territory must be recognized in a 
(!) OJ No L 109, 26. 4. 1983, p. 8. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/3 
safeguard clause providing for adequate Community 
protection procedures; 
(18) Whereas the addressees of any decision taken under 
this Directive must be informed of the reasons for such 
a decision and the means of appeal open to them; 
(19) Whereas the measures aimed at the gradual establish­
ment of the internal market must be adopted by 31 
December 1992; whereas the internal market consists 
of an area without internal frontiers within which the 
free movement of goods, persons, services and capital 
is guaranteed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
CHAPTER I 
Scope, placing on the market and freedom of movement 
Article 1 
1. This Directive applies to machinery and lays down 
essential safety requirements thereof. 
2. For the purposes of this Directive, 'machinery' means 
an assembly of mechanically linked parts or components, at 
least one of which moves, with the appropriate actuators, 
control and power circuits, etc., joined together for a 
specific application. 
The term 'machinery' also covers complex installations, 
namely an assembly of machines and equipment which, in 
order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled 
so that they function as an integral whole. 
3. The following are excluded from the scope of this 
Directive: 
— mobile site equipment, 
— lifting equipment, 
— mobile agricultural and forestry equipment, 
— machinery for working wood and similar materials, 
— machinery whose only power source is directly applied 
manual effort, 
— machinery designed and constructed for medical use, 
— means of transport and machinery specifically designed 
to equip or propel them, 
— all machinery corresponding to the above definition and 
covered by an EEC Directive containing technical 
design and construction requirements relating to health 
and safety in respect of the hazards covered by such a 
Directive. Article 2 
1. Member States shall take all appropriate measures to 
ensure that machinery as referred to in Article 1 may be 
placed on the market and put into service and use only if it 
does not endanger the health or safety of persons, and 
where necessary, domestic animals or property, when 
properly installed, and maintained and used for its intended 
purpose. 
2. The provisions of the Directive shall not affect 
Member States' entitlement to lay down, with due 
observance of the Treaty, such requirements as they may 
deem necessary to ensure that workers are protected when 
using the machinery in question, provided that this does not 
mean that the machinery is modified in a way not specified 
in the Directive. 
3. Inspections carried out by Member States in the 
exercise of their obligations under the first paragraph of 
this Article shall be limited to the provisions of this 
Directive. 
4. At trade fairs, exhibitions, etc. Member States shall not 
prevent the showing of demonstration machinery which, 
for the needs of the demonstration, does not conform to the 
provisions of this Directive, provided that an appropriate 
sign clearly indicates that such machinery does not conform 
and that it is not for sale until it has been brought into 
conformity by the manufacturer or his authorized 
representative established in the Community. 
Article 3 
Machinery as referred to in Article 1 of this Directive shall 
satisfy the essential safety requirements set out in Annex I. 
Article 4 
1. Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede 
the placing on the market, putting into service or use on 
their territory of machinery which complies with the 
provisions of this Directive, bears the EC mark and is 
accompanied by the EC declaration of conformity. 
2. Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede 
the placing on the market of machinery, even where no EC 
mark is affixed, which is intended to be incorporated into 
machinery or assembled with other machinery to constitute 
machinery within the meaning of Article 1. Member States 
shall not, however, permit the putting into service or use of 
such machinery unless the machinery within the meaning of 
Article 1 has been declared to be in conformity with the 
provisions of the Directive and the EC mark has been 
affixed. 
No C 29/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
Article 5 
1. Member States shall presume conformity with the 
essential safety requirements referred to in Article 3 in 
respect of machinery bearing the EC mark and ac­
companied by an EC declaration of conformity. 
2. Where a national standard transposing a harmonized 
standard, the reference for which has been published in the 
Official Journal of the European Communities, covers one 
or more of the essential safety requirements, machinery 
constructed in accordance with this standard shall be 
presumed to comply with the relevant essential require­
ments. 
Member States shall publish the references of national 
standards transposing harmonized standards. 
3. In the absence of harmonized standards, the national 
standards referred to in paragraph 4 shall create the same 
presumption of conformity. 
4. Member States shall communicate to the Commission 
the texts of their national standards which they consider to 
conform to one or more essential safety requirements. The 
Commission shall forward such texts forthwith to the other 
Member States. In accordance with the procedure provided 
for in Article 6 paragraph 2, it shall notify the Member 
States of those national standards in respect of which there 
is presumption of conformity with the essential require­
ments. 
Member States shall publish the reference number of those 
standards. The Commission shall also publish these 
references in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities. 
Article 6 
1. Where a Member State or the Commission considers 
that the harmonized standards referred to in Article 5 
paragraph 2 do not entirely satisfy the essential require­
ments referred to in Article 3, the Commission or the 
Member State concerned shall bring the matter before the 
Standing Committee set up under Directive 83/189/ 
EEC (1), hereinafter referred to as 'the Committee', giving 
the reasons therefor. The Committee shall deliver an 
opinion without delay. 
Upon receipt of the Committe's opinion, the Commission 
shall inform the Member States whether or not it is 
necessary to withdraw those standards from the publi­
cations referred to in Article 5 paragraph 2. 
2. After receipt of the communication referred to in 
Article 5 paragraph 4 the Commission shall consult the 
Committee. Upon receipt of the latter's opinion, the 
Commission shall, within one month, inform the Member 
States whether or not the national standard in question 
shall enjoy presumption of conformity and, if so, whether 
the references thereof must be published nationally. 
(') OJ No L 109, 26. 4. 1983, p. 8. If the Commission or Member State considers that a 
national standard no longer satisfies the necessary 
conditions for presumption of conformity with the 
essential safety requirements referred to in Article 3, the 
Commission shall consult the Committee. Upon receipt of 
the latter's opinion, the Commission shall inform the 
Member States whether or not the standard in question 
shall continue to enjoy presumption of conformity and, if 
not, whether it must be withdrawn from the publications 
referred to in Article 5 paragraph 4. 
Article 7 
1. Where a Member State ascertains that machinery 
bearing the EC mark and used in accordance with its 
intended purpose is liable to endanger the safety of persons, 
domestic animals or property, it shall take all appropriate 
measures to withdraw such machinery from the market, 
prohibit its placing on the market, putting into service or 
use, or restrict its free movement. 
The Member State shall immediately inform the Commis­
sion of any such measure, indicating the reasons for its 
decision and, in particular, whether non-conformity is due 
to: 
(a) failure to satisfy the essential requirements referred to in 
Article 3, 
(b) incorrect application of the standards referred to in 
Article 5, 
(c) shortcomings in the standards referred to in Article 5 
themselves. 
2. The Commission shall enter into consultation with the 
parties concerned without delay. Where the Commission 
considers, after this consultation, that the action is justified 
it shall immediately so inform the Member State which 
took the initiative and the other Member States. Where the 
decision referred to in paragraph 1 is based on a 
shortcoming in the standards, and where the Member State 
at the origin of the decision maintains its position, the 
Commission shall immediately inform the Committee in 
order to initiate the procedures referred to in Article 6. 
3. Where machinery which does not comply bears the EC 
mark, the competent Member State shall take appropriate 
action against whomsoever has affixed the mark and shall 
so inform the Commission and the other Member States. 
4. The Commission shall ensure that the Member States 
are kept informed of the progress and outcome of this 
procedure. 
CHAPTER II 
Certification procedure 
Article 8 
The manufacturer, or his authorized representative 
established in the Community, in order to certify the 
conformity of machinery to the terms of this Directive: 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/5 
(a) before placing on the market, shall draw up documen­
tation comprising: 
(i) a technical construction file composed of: 
— an overall drawing of the machinery together 
with the drawings of the control circuits, 
— full detailed drawings, accompanied by any 
calculation notes, test results, etc., required to 
construct the machinery, 
— a list of: 
— essential requirements of this Directive, 
— other texts of regulations, and 
— standards, 
which were used when the machinery was 
designed' 
— a description of the methods adopted to 
eliminate hazards presented by the machinery, 
— if desired, all technical reports or certificates 
obtained from a competent body, 
— a copy of the instruction handbook for the 
machinery; 
(ii) for series manufacture, internal measures which 
will be implemented to ensure that the machinery 
remains in conformity with the provisions of the 
Directive; 
(iii) for series manufacture, the same documentation 
shall serve for all machinery of the same type. 
(b) when the machinery is manufactured and conforms to 
the relevant essential safety requirements, shall issue an 
EC declaration of conformity for each of the machines 
based on the model given in Annex II and shall affix to 
the machinery the EC mark referred to in Article 9. 
The documentation referred to under point (a) above 
shall be retained by the manufacturer or his authorized 
representative established in the Community for at least 
10 years beyond the date of manufacture of the 
machinery or of the last unit produced in the case of 
series manufacture. 
Where neither the manufacturer nor his authorized 
representative is established in the Community, the 
abovementioned obligations to keep documentation 
available shall fall to any person placing the machinery on 
the market in the Community. The same obligations shall 
apply to anyone assembling machinery or parts therof of 
various origins or constructing machinery for his own use. CHAPTER III 
EC mark 
Article 9 
1. The EC mark shall consist of the symbol 'CE' in 
conformity to the model given in Annex III followed by the 
last two digits of the year in which the mark was affixed. 
2. The EC mark shall be affixed to machinery in 
accordance with point 1.7.3 of Annex I. 
3. The affixing to machinery of marks or inscriptions that 
are likely to be confused with the EC mark shall be 
prohibited. 
CHAPTER IV 
Final provisions 
Article 10 
Any decision taken by a Member State pursuant to this 
Directive shall state the exact grounds on which it is based. 
Such a decision shall be notified as soon as possible to the 
party concerned, who shall at the same time be informed of 
the legal remedies available to him under the laws in force 
in the Member State in question and of the time limits to 
which such remedies are subject. 
Article 11 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary in 
order to comply with this Directive by 1 January 1989 at 
the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission 
thereof. 
They shall apply these provisions with effect from 1 
January 1991. 
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the 
provisions of national law which they adopt in the field 
covered by the Directive are communicated to the 
Commission. 
Article 12 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
No C 29/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
ANNEX I 
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS 
1. The obligations laid down by the essential safety requirements apply only when the 
corresponding hazard exists for the machinery in question. Requirements 1.1.2, 1.7.3 and 1.7.4 
apply to all machinery covered by this Directive. 
2. Where, for imperative reasons, the obligations laid down by one or more essential safety 
requirements cannot be satisfied, compensatory measures must be taken to ensure an equivalent 
final level of safety. 
1. ESSENTIAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 
APPLYING TO ALL MACHINERY COVERED BY THE DIRECTIVE 
1.1. General remarks 
1.1.1. Definitions 
For the purpose of this Directive: 
a) 'danger zone' shall mean any zone within and/or around working machinery in which an 
exposed person (or a part of his body or clothing) is subject to a hazard to his health or safety; 
b) 'exposed person' shall mean any person in a danger zone; 
c) 'operator' shall mean the exposed person or persons given the task of installing, operating, 
adjusting, maintaining, repairing or transporting machinery. 
1.1.2. Principles of safety integration 
(a) When designing and constructing machinery, the manufacturer must identify risks of 
accidents, assess health hazards and, taking account of technical progress, select the best 
methods of eliminating or minimizing them. 
This must cover the whole lifetime of the machinery, from construction to final dismantling. 
(b) In selecting the most appropriate methods, the manufacturer must apply the following 
principles, in the order given : 
— eliminate or reduce risks as far as possible (inherently safe machinery design and 
construction), 
— take the necessary protection measures in relation to hazards that cannot be eliminated, 
— inform users of the residual risks due to any shortcomings of the protection measures 
adopted. 
(c) When designing and constructing machinery, and when drafting the instruction handbook, 
the manufacturer must design and implement safety features of a quality equivalent to the 
other functions of the machinery. 
(d) When designing and constructing machinery, and when drafting the instruction handbook, 
the manufacturer must envisage not only the normal use of the machinery but also uses which 
could reasonably be expected. The manufacturer must therefore envisage the hazards present 
during the normal use of the machine and also those due to a foreseeable abnormal situation 
(e.g. hazards due to reflex action or to machinery malfunction). The manufacturer must also 
envisage ways of using the machinery which can be habitually practised even though not 
intended. Consequently the instruction handbook should, if necessary, draw attention to 
ways in which the machinery should not be used. 
(e) Under the planned conditions of use, the discomfort, fatigue and psychological stress faced 
by the operator must be reduced to the minimum possible taking ergonomic rules into 
account. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/7 
(f) When designing and constructing machinery, the manufacturer must take account of the 
constraints to which the operator is subject due to the necessary or foreseeable use of 
personal protection equipment (such as footwear, gloves, etc.). 
1.1.3. Materials and products 
The materials used to construct machinery or products used and created during its use must not 
endanger exposed persons' safety or health. 
In particular, where fluids are used, machinery must be designed and constructed for use without 
hazards due to filling, use, recovery or draining. 
1.1.4. Lighting 
Machinery must be designed and constructed so that the working area is properly lit for the 
operations to be carried out therein, under normal ambient lighting conditions. 
The manufacturer must ensure that there is no area of shadow likely to cause nuisance, that there 
is no irritating dazzle and that there are no stroboscopic effects due to the lighting provided by 
the manufacturer. 
Internal parts requiring frequent inspection, and adjustment and maintenance areas, must be 
provided with appropriate lighting. 
1.1.5. Design of machinery for handling purposes 
Machinery or component parts thereof must: 
— be capable of being installed and removed without risk, 
— be packed or designed so that it can be stored without damage or risk (e.g. adequate stability, 
. special supports, etc.). 
Where the weight, size or shape of machinery or its various component parts prevents them from 
being moved by hand, the machinery or each component part must: 
— be fitted with attachments for lifting gear, 
— be designed so that they can be fitted with such attachments (e.g. threaded holes), 
— or be shaped in such a way that standard lifting gear can easily be attached. 
Where machinery or one of its component parts is to be moved by hand, it must: 
— either be easily movable, 
— or be equipped for picking up (e.g. hand-grips, etc.) and moving in complete safety. 
Special arrangements must be made for the handling of tools and/or machinery parts, even if 
lightweight, which could be dangerous (shape, material, etc.). 
1.2. Controls 
1.2.1. Safety and reliability of controls 
Controls must be reliable in operation. 
They must be designed and constructed so as to: 
— avoid all undetectable failures, 
—— use as far as possible devices with a positive action, 
— rule out reasonably foreseeable tampering. 
^OCP^^ 0^icial]onrnaloir^^nror^^nComrnanine^ 
eontrol devices must be 
— clearly visible and identifiable and appropriately marked where necessary, 
— positioned for safe operationwithout hesitation or loss of time, and without ambiguity, 
— designed sothat the movementof the control is consistent with its effect, 
— located outside dangerous areas except for certain emergency stop controls where necessary, 
— positioned so that their operation cannot cause additional hazard, 
— designed or protected so that the desired effect,whereaha^ard is involved,cannot occur 
without an intentional operation 
Whereacontrol is designed and constructed to perform several different actions,namely where 
there is no onetoonecorrespondence^e.g.keyboards,etc.^,the action to be performedmust be 
clearlydisplayed and subject to confirmationwhere necessary. 
eontrols must be so arranged that their layout, travel, mechanical strength and resistance to 
operation are compatible with the action to be performed, taking account of ergonomic 
principles eonstramt due to the necessary or foreseeable use of personal protection equipment 
nuchas footwear, gloves,etc.^must be taken into account. 
t^rom the control position the operator must be able to read the mdicators^dials,signals,etc.^as 
required to performoperations safely 
rhe operator must be able to supervise all the dangerous areasofthe machinery from the control 
position either directly or,for example,by using mirrors,cameras and monitor screens,etc.lf 
this is impossible the control systemmust be designed and constructed so thatawarning signal is 
given whenever the machinery is about to start. 
Itmust be possible to start machinery,restart it afterastoppageforwhatever reason,or makea 
significant change in the speed only by voluntary action ofacontrol provided for the purpose, 
except in the case of the normal operation of an automatic device. 
Where machinery has several starting controls and the operators can therefore put each other in 
danger, additional steps must be taken to rule out suchaha^ard 
t^ach work station must be fitted withacontrol to stop some or all of the moving parts of the 
machinery 
Where there are several operators, steps must be taken to ensure that stoppage of the machine by 
one operator does not placehimor the other operators in danger 
Themachmery^sstop control must have pnontyover the start controls. 
If the normal stopping time is too long to terminate certain incidents or situations which could 
lead to anaccident,onf an emergencysituation requires special action,machinery must be fitted 
with an emergency stop. 
rhis device must 
— have clearly visible and c^uicklyaccessible controls, 
— stop the dangerous process as c^uicklyas possible, 
— set off or enable certain safeguard movements where necessary. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/9 
The emergency stop control must remain engaged; it must be possible to disengage it only by an 
appropriate operation; disengaging the control must not restart the machinery, but only enable 
restarting. 
Complex installations 
In the case of machinery or parts of machinery designed to work together, the manufacturer must 
so design and construct the machinery that the stop controls, including the emergency stop, can 
stop not only the machinery itself but also all equipment upstream and/or downstream if its 
continued operation can be dangerous. 
1.2.5. Mode selection 
If machinery has been designed and built to allow for its use in several control or operating modes 
presenting different safety levels (e.g. to allow for adjustment, maintenance, inspection, etc.), it 
must be fitted with a mode selector which can be locked in each position. Each position of the 
selector must correspond to a single operating or control mode. 
The selector may be replaced by another selection method which restricts the use of certain 
functions of the machinery to certain categories of operator (e.g. access codes for certain 
numerically controlled functions, etc.). 
If, for certain operations, the machinery must be able to operate with its protection devices 
neutralized, the mode selector must simultaneously: 
— disable the automatic control mode, 
— enable movements only by controls requiring sustained action, 
— enable the operation of dangerous moving parts only in enhanced safety conditions (e.g. 
reduced speed, reduced power, step-by-step, etc.). 
1.2.6. Failure of the control circuit and/or power-supply circuit 
The interruption, re-establishment after an interruption or fluctuation in whatever manner of 
the power supply to the machinery must not lead to a dangerous situation. 
Similarly a fault in the control circuit logic, failure of or damage to the control circuit and/or 
power-supply circuit must not lead to a dangerous situation. 
1.3. Protection against mechanical hazards 
1.3.1. Stability 
Machinery, components and fittings thereof must be so constructed that they are stable enough, 
under the intended operating conditions, for use without risk of overturning, falling or 
unforseeable movement. 
If the shape of the machinery itself or its intended installation does not offer sufficient stability, 
appropriate means of anchorage must be incorporated and indicated in the instruction 
handbook. 
1.3.2. Risk of break-up during operation 
The various parts of machinery and their linkages must be able to withstand the stresses to which 
they are subject when used as intended by the manufacturer. 
The durability of the materials used must be adequate for the nature of the workplace intended 
by the manufacturer, in particular as regards the phenomena of fatigue, ageing, corrosion and 
abrasion. 
The manufacturer must indicate in the instruction handbook the part or parts needing 
replacement for safety reasons and the criteria for such replacement. 
Where a risk of rupture or disintegration remains despite the measures taken (e.g. as with 
grinding wheels) the moving parts must be mounted and positioned is such a way that in case of 
rupture their fragments will be contained. 
No C 29/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
Both rigid and flexible pipes carrying fluids, particularly those under high pressure, must be able 
to withstand the intended internal and external stresses and must be firmly attached and/or 
protected against all manner of stresses and strains; precautions must be taken to ensure that no 
hazard is posed by a rupture (sudden movement, high-pressure jets, etc.). 
Where the material to be processed is fed to the tool automatically, the following conditions must 
be fulfilled to avoid the hazards of tool breakage: 
— when the workpiece comes into contact with the tool the latter must have attained its normal 
working conditions, 
— when the tool stops (intentionally or accidentally) the feed movement must stop in a time 
compatible with the tool stopping time. 
1.3.3. Hazards due to falling objects 
Precautions must be taken to prevent objects (e.g. workpieces, tools, etc.) falling or being ejected 
in a hazardous manner. 
1.3.4. Hazards due to surfaces, edges or angles 
Machinery must have no acute angles, sharp edges or rough surfaces likely to cause injury. 
This does not apply to cutting tools essential to the operation of the machine. 
1.3.5. Prevention against hazards related to moving parts 
The moving parts of machinery must be designed, built, laid out or at least provided with guards 
or protective devices in such a way as to prevent all risk of contact which could lead to accidents. 
1.3.6. Choice of protection against hazards related to moving parts 
Guards or protective devices used to protect against the hazards related to moving parts must be 
selected on the basis of the type of hazard. Guards or protective devices must not themselves 
cause hazards. The following guidelines should be used to help make the choice. 
A. Moving transmission parts 
Guards designed to protect exposed persons against the hazards associated with moving 
transmission parts (such as pulleys, belts, gears, propeller shafts, etc.) must be: 
— either fixed, complying with requirment 1.4.1, 
— or removable, complying with requirement 1.4.2. 
Removable guards should be used where frequent access is anticipated. 
B. Moving parts directly involved in the process 
Guards or protective devices designed to protect exposed persons against the hazards 
associated with other moving parts (such as cutting tools, moving parts of presses, cylinders, 
etc.) must be: 
— wherever possible fixed guards complying with requirement 1.4.1, 
— failing this guards or protective devices complying with requirement 1.4.3. 
However, when certain moving parts directly involved in the process cannot be made 
completely or partially inaccessible during operation owing to operations requiring nearby 
operator intervention, where technically possible such parts must be fitted with: 
— fixed guards, complying with requirement 1.4.1, preventing access to those sections of the 
parts that are not used in the work, 
— adjustable guards, complying with requirement 1.4.4, restricting access to those sections 
of the moving parts that are strictly necessary for the work. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/11 
1.4. Required characteristics of guards and protective devices 
1.4.1. Fixed guards 
Fixed guards must: 
— be of robust construction, 
— be securely held in place. 
They must be fixed by systems that can be opened only with tools. 
Where possible, guards must be unable to remain in place without their fixings. 
1.4.2. Removable guards 
Removable guards must: 
— be of robust construction, 
— as far as possible remain fixed to the machinery when open, 
— be associated with a locking device to prevent moving parts starting up as long as these parts 
can be accessed and to give a stop command whenever they are no longer closed. 
1.4.3. Guards and protective devices 
Guards and protective devices such as: 
— fixed guards, 
— removable guards, 
— sensing devices (sensor mats, non-material barriers, etc.), 
— two-hand controls, etc., 
must be designed and incorporated into the control system so that: 
— moving parts cannot start up while they are within the operator's reach, 
— the operator cannot reach moving parts during operation: namely guards must not open 
before the moving parts have stopped (interlocking device), sensing devices must be 
sufficiently far away from the moving parts so that they have stopped before they can be 
reached, etc., 
— they can be adjusted only by means of an intentional action, such as the use of a tool, key, etc., 
— the absence or failure of one of their components prevents starting or stops the moving parts, 
— protection against any ejection hazard is provided by means of an appropriate barrier. 
1.4.4. Adjustable guards restricting access 
Adjustable guards restricting access must: 
— be of robust construction, 
— be adjustable manually or automatically according to the type of work involved, 
— be readily adjustable without the use of tools, 
— reduce as far as possible the risk of ejection. 
The operation and use of these guards must not entail any additional hazard or impede the view 
of work in progress; nor must their removal be necessary for normal production and 
maintenance. 
No C 29/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
1.5. Protection against other hazards 
1.5.1. Electricity supply 
Where machinery has an electricity supply it must be designed, constructed and equipped so that 
all hazards of an electrical nature are or can be prevented. 
1.5.2. Static electricity 
Machinery must be so designed and constructed as to prevent or limit the build-up of potentially 
dangerous electrostatic charges and/or be fitted with a discharging system. 
1.5.3. Hydraulic, pneumatic or thermal energy 
Where machinery is powered by hydraulic, pneumatic or thermal energy, it must be so designed, 
constructed and equipped as to avoid all potential hazards associated with these types of energy. 
1.5.4. Extreme temperatures 
Steps must be taken to eliminate any risk of injury caused by contact with or proximity to 
machinery parts or materials at high or very low temperatures. 
The risk of hot or very cold material being ejected should be assessed. Where this hazard exists, 
the necessary steps must be taken to prevent it or, if this is not technically possible, to render it 
non-dangerous. 
1.5.5. Fire 
Machinery must be designed and constructed to avoid all risk of fire posed by the machinery 
itself or by gases, liquids, dusts, vapours or other substances produced or used by the machinery. 
1.5.6. Explosion 
If the manufacturer anticipates the use of the machinery in a potentially explosive atmosphere, it 
must be designed and constructed to avoid all risk of explosion. 
The same precautions must be taken if the dusts, gases, vapours or other waste materials 
produced by the machinery are liable to create a potentially explosive atmosphere within or 
around the machine. 
Furthermore, electrical equipment forming part of the machinery must conform, as far as 
explosion hazards are concerned, to the provisions of Directives 76/117/EEC (J) and 79/116/ 
EEC (2), as amended by Directive 84/47/EEC (3), in ordinary cases, and Directive 82/130/ 
EEC (4) where used in mines susceptible to firedamp. 
1.5.7. Noise 
Machinery must be so designed and constructed that hazards resulting from the emission of 
airborne noise are reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable taking account of technical 
progress and the availability of measures to control noise, in particular at source. 
1.5.8. Vibration 
Machinery must be so designed and constructed that hazards resulting from vibrations produced 
by the machinery are reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable taking account of 
technical progress. 
(!) OJ No L 24, 30. 1. 1976, p. 45. 
(2) OJ No L 43, 20. 2. 1979, p. 20. 
(3) OJ No L 31, 2. 2. 1984, p. 19. 
(4) OJ No L 59, 2. 3. 1982, p. 10. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/13 
1.5.9. Radiation 
The manufacturer must ensure that any emission of electromagnetic, ionizing or other radiation 
is limited to the extent necessary for the operation of the machinery and that the effects on 
exposed persons are non-existent or reduced to non-dangerous proportions. 
1.5.10. Emissions of dust, gases, etc. 
Machinery must be so designed, constructed and/or equipped that hazards due to gases, liquids, 
dust, vapours and other waste materials which it produces can be avoided. 
Where a hazard exists, the machinery must be so equipped that the said substances can be 
collected and/or evacuated. 
Where machinery is not enclosed during normal operation, the devices for collection or 
evacuation must be situated as close as possible to the source of emission. 
1.6. Maintenance 
1.6.1. Machinery maintenance 
Adjustment, lubrication and maintenance points must be located outside danger zones. It must 
be possible to carry out adjustment, maintenance, repair and servicing operations while 
machinery is at a standstill. 
If one or more of the above conditions cannot be satisfied for technical reasons, these operations 
must be possible without risk (see 1.2.5). 
Errors likely to be made when fitting or refitting certain parts which could be a source of hazard 
must be made impossible by the design of such parts or, failing this, by information given on the 
parts themselves and/or the housings. The same information must be given on moving parts and/ 
or their housings where the direction of movement must be known to avoid a hazard. Any further 
information that may be necessary must be given in the instruction handbook. 
Where a faulty connection can be the sourceof hazards, incorrect fluid connections, including 
electrical conductors, must be made impossible by the design or, failing this, by information 
given on the pipes, cables, etc. and/or connector blocks. 
1.6.2. Access to operating position and servicing points 
The manufacturer must provide means of access (stairs, ladders, catwalks, etc.) to allow access in 
complete safety to all areas used for production, adjustment and maintenance operations. 
Parts of the machinery where persons are liable to move about or stand must be designed and 
constructed to avoid falls. 
1.6.3. Isolation of power sources 
All machinery must be fitted with means to isolate it from all power sources. 
Where an operator is unable, from any of the points to which he has access, to check that the 
power is still cut off, it must be possible to lock out the relevant isolators. 
After the power is cut off, it must be possible to dissipate normally any power remaining in the 
circuits of the machinery, without risk to exposed persons. 
As an exception to the above requirements, certain circuits may remain connected to their power 
sources in order, for example, to hold parts, protect information, light interiors, etc. In this case, 
special steps must be taken to ensure operator safety. 
No C 29/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
1.7. Indicators 
1.7.1. Warning devices 
Where machinery is equipped with warning devices (such as signals, etc.), these must be 
unambiguous and easily perceived. 
The operator must have facilities to check the operation of such warning devices at all times. 
The requirements of Directive 77/576/EEC (l) concerning colours and safety signals must be 
complied with. 
1.7.2. Warning of residual risks 
Where hazards remain despite all the measures adopted or in the case of potential hazards which 
are not evident (e.g. electrical cabinets, radioactive sources, bleeding of a hydraulic circuit, 
hazard in an unseen area, etc.), the manufacturer must provide warnings. 
Such warnings should preferably use readily understandable pictograms and/or be drawn up in 
one of the languages of the country in which the machinery is to be used, accompanied, on 
request, by the languages understood by the operators. 
1.7.3. Marking 
All machinery must be marked legibly and indelibly with the following minimum particulars: 
— name and address of the manufacturer, 
— EC mark, which includes the year of construction (see Annex II), 
— designation of series or type, 
— serial number, if any. 
Furthermore, where the manufacturer anticipates use in a potentially explosive atmosphere, this 
must be indicated on the machinery. 
Machinery must also bear full information relevant to its type and essential to its safe use (e.g. 
maximum speed of certain rotating parts, maximum diameter of tools to be fitted, weight, etc.). 
1.7.4. Instruction handbook 
(a) All machinery must be accompanied by an instruction handbook including at least the 
following: 
— a repeat of the information with which the machinery is marked (see 1.7.3), 
— normal operating conditions, 
— operating position(s) liable to be occupied by operators, 
— instructions for safe: 
— handling, giving the weight of the machinery and its various parts where they can be 
transported separately, 
— installation, 
— assembly, 
— adjustment, 
— maintenance (servicing and repair). 
Where necessary, the handbook should draw attention to ways in which the machinery 
should not be used. 
(b) The instruction handbook should be drawn up by the manufacturer in one of the languages 
of the country in which the machinery is to be used and should preferably be accompanied by 
the same handbook drawn up in another Community language, such as that of the country in 
which the manufacturer is established. 
(!) OJ No L 229, 7. 9. 1977, p. 12. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/15 
(c) The instruction handbook must contain the drawings and diagrams necessary for putting 
into service, maintenance, inspection, checking of correct operation and, where appropriate, 
repair of the machinery, and all useful instructions. 
(d) The sales brochure describing the machinery must not contradict the instruction handbook 
as regards safety aspects. 
(e) Where necessary the instruction handbook must give the requirements relating to installation 
and assembly for reducing noise or vibration (e.g. use of dampers, type and weight of 
foundation block, etc.). 
(f) The instruction handbook must give the following information concerning airborne noise 
emissions by the machinery (actual value or value established on the basis of measurements 
made on identical machinery): 
— continuous A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level, at work stations, where this 
exceeds 70 dB(A); where this level does not exceed 70 dB(A), '70dB(A)' may be indicated, 
— peak unweighted instantaneous sound pressure level, where this exceeds 63 Pa (130 dB in 
relation to 20 uPa), 
— sound power level emitted by the machinery where the continuous A-weighted equivalent 
sound pressure level at work stations exceeds 80 dB(A). 
Sound levels must be measured using either the normalized measuring code appropriate to 
the machinery or, where such a code does not exist or is not used, a class 2 measuring code 
(expert survey). 
The operating conditions of the machinery during measurement, the measurement points 
and the duration of measurements must be as specified in the applicable standard. If there is 
no applicable standard, the operating conditions must correspond to one work cycle 
representative of the normal use of the machinery. 
Where the work station(s) are undefined or cannot be defined, sound pressure levels must be 
measured at the envelope curve located one metre from the machinery at the point where the 
level is highest. 
The manufacturer should indicate what measurement methods have been used and the 
conditions under which measurements have been made. 
(g) If the manufacturer anticipates the use of the machinery in a potentially explosive 
atmosphere, the instruction handbook must give all the necessary information. 
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF 
MACHINERY 
2.1. Agri-foodstuffs machinery 
In addition to the essential safety requirements set out in 1 above, where machinery is intended to 
prepare and process foodstuffs (e.g. cooking, refrigeration, thawing, washing, handling, 
packaging, storage, transport or distribution), the following hygiene rules must be observed: 
(a) Materials in contact, or intended to come into contact, with the foodstuffs must satisfy the 
conditions set down in the relevant Directives (J), and must be clean before each use. 
(b) All surfaces including their joinings must be smooth, and must have neither ridges nor 
crevices which could harbour organic materials. 
(J) Council Directive 76/893/EEC (OJ No L 340, 9. 12. 1976) (currently under revision) and specific Directives 
adopted in application thereof. Directive 76/893/EEC provides as follows: 
'Article 2 
Materials and articles must be manufactured in compliance with good manufacturing practice, so that, 
under their normal or foreseeable conditions of use, they do not transfer their constituents to foodstuffs in 
quantities which could: 
— endanger human health, 
— bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the foodstuffs or a deterioration in the 
organoleptic characteristics thereof.' 
No C 29/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
(c) Assemblies must be designed in such a way as to reduce projections, edges and recesses to a 
minimum. They should preferably be made by welding or continuous bonding. Screws, 
screwheads and rivets may not be used except where technically unavoidable. 
(d) All surfaces in contact with the foodstuffs must be easily cleaned and disinfected, where 
possible after removing easily dismantled parts. The inside surfaces must have curves of a 
radius sufficient to allow thorough cleaning. 
(e) Liquid deriving from foodstuffs as well as cleaning, disinfecting and rinsing fluids should be 
able to be discharged from the machine without impediment (possibly in a 'clean' position). 
(f) Precautions must be taken to prevent any insects or liquids entering inaccessible parts of 
machinery. 
(g) Machinery must be so designed and constructed that no lubricants other than edible 
lubricants can come into contact with foodstuffs. Where necessary, continuing compliance 
with this requirement must be checked regularly. 
Instruction handbook 
In addition to the information required in Section 1, the instruction handbook must indicate 
recommended products and methods for cleaning, disinfecting and rinsing (not only for easily 
accessible areas but also where areas to which access is impossible or inadvisable, such as piping, 
have to be cleaned in situ). 
2.2. Portable hand-held machinery and mobile hand-guided machinery 
In addition to the essential requirements set out in 1 above, portable hand-held machinery, as 
well as mobile hand-guided or hand-driven machinery which rests on a table, the ground or the 
material being worked upon, must conform to the following essential safety requirements: 
— It must have a supporting surface of sufficient size (for mobile machinery) and have a 
sufficient number of handles and supports of an appropriate size and arranged to ensure the 
stability of the machinery under the operating conditions envisaged by the manufacturer. 
— Except where technically impossible or where there is an independent control to allow the 
handles to be released in complete safety, it must be fitted with start and stop controls 
arranged in such a way that the operator can operate them without releasing the handles. 
— It must be designed, constructed or equipped to eliminate the hazards of accidental starting 
and/or continued operation after the operator has released the handles. Equivalent steps 
must be taken if this requirement is not technically feasible. 
— Portable hand-held machinery must be designed and constructed to allow, where necessary, a 
visual check of the contact of the tool with the material being processed. 
Particular attention must be paid to reducing vibrations transmitted to the operator's arms to as 
low a level as reasonably practicable taking account of technical progress. 
Instruction handbook 
The instruction handbook must give the following information concerning vibrations 
transmitted by hand-held and hand-guided machinery: 
— equivalent acceleration to which the arms are subjected, where this exceeds 5 m/s2. 
The manufacturer must indicate measurement methods used and conditions under which 
measurements were made. 
2.3. Mobile machinery 
In addition to the essential safety requirements set out in 1 above, mobile machinery must satisfy 
the following requirements: 
(a) Access to driving or operating positions must be safe and easy. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/17 
(b) The operator must have a stable operating position; where necessary it must be fitted with 
guard rails or grips and supports for the operator. 
(c) Machinery must be designed and constructed to allow the driver an adequate view of his 
route and to drive in complete safety. 
(d) Where the operator is expected to work on machinery, each operating position must either 
have a strong seat designed to avoid dangerous vibrations or be equipped with a device 
having the same effect. 
(e) Where necessary, machinery must be designed and constructed so that an anti-collision 
device stops it immediately if it touches an obstacle. 
(f) Where the driver does not ride on the machinery but walks with it, the speed of movement 
must be limited. 
(g) Where necessary, it must be equipped with a service and/or parking brake. 
No C 29/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 2. 88 
ANNEX II 
MODEL 
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY (') 
The manufacturer or his authorized representative established in the Community (2) 
declares that the new machinery described below 
complies with the regulations transposing Directive .../EEC. 
Done at , on 
(Signature) 
(!) This declaration must be drawn up in the same language as the instruction handbook (see Annex I, 
paragraph 1.7.4), either typewritten or handwritten in block capitals. 
(2) Business name and full address; authorized representatives must also give the business name and address of 
the manufacturer. 
(3) Description of the machinery (make, type, serial number, etc.). 
(4) Give the name and position of the person empowered to sign on behalf of the manufacturer or his authorized 
representative. 
3. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 29/19 
ANNEX III 
MODEL EC MARK 
This mark should be followed by the last two digits of the year of manufacture in characters of the same height 
and thickness as the above model. 
The EC mark must be at least 5 mm in height.