I've seen a wide variety of practices employed when people design and commission automated machinery, when it comes to evaluating risk and determining appropriate safeguarding. In some cases, it's just part of the design process, integrated into mechanical design as the various motions on a machine are envisioned. More commonly, it's a separate step (sadly, I think, sometimes just an afterthought) when a machine's nearly complete. There also seems to be a trend toward formal risk assessments, often involving outside experts.
I'm curious as to whether your practices are changing in this respect? What's driving the process -- new safety standards, insurance company mandates, corporate policy?
I'm curious as to whether your practices are changing in this respect? What's driving the process -- new safety standards, insurance company mandates, corporate policy?