RR1214: Review of key machinery safety standards and guidance, and how they reflect on emerging technologies
Two key regulations supporting machinery safety in the UK are the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (SMSR) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). SMSR and PUWER address machinery safety requirements for different stages – supply and use respectively. SMSR mandates that machinery being placed on the GB market (either supplied to a customer or for own use) is designed and constructed to meet essential health and safety requirements, while PUWER ensures that employers provide equipment to be used at work that is safe, suitable, and maintained.
Considering the emergence of new and emerging technologies, particularly autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and autonomous agricultural vehicles (AAV), and the potential utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for machinery safety, HSE commissioned a study to identify gaps in existing standards and guidance documents.
This report presents the findings of that study.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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