MACHINERY DIRECTIVE (MD) 2006/42/EC

MSD 98/37/EC (Machinery Directive) of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 22, 1998 was published on January 1, 1993. It has been amended according to the 2006/42/EC. The directive is in approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to machinery. It provides the harmonization of the essential health and safety requirements for machinery in the European

Economic Area.

The Machinery Directive came into force on January 1, 1993 and has been mandatory since January 1, 1995. From that date, no machine can be placed in the European Economic Area or installed if it does not bear the CE marking.

The scope of the MD applies to all units that have:

• An assembly of linked parts or components
• At least one movable part
• A function such as processing, treating, moving, or packaging a material

A machine that has moving parts that are not exposed does fall under the MSD. A possible solution to the hazard may be a guard; however, the machine is still covered by the MD. This hazard and solution must be documented in the Hazard Analysis file.