JICOSH Home | Guidelines | RE: Revision of "Guidelines for the Comprehensive Safety Standards of Machinery"

Regarding the Guidelines for the Comprehensive Safety Standards of Machinery (hereinafter referred to as "Guidelines"), we published them in Basic Issue No. 501 of June 1, 2001, "Regarding the Guidelines for the Comprehensive Safety Standards of Machinery" (hereinafter referred to as "Notice No. 501"), and have been working to disseminate them.In this connection, we have recently witnessed some developments including the following: (1) the Industrial Safety and Health Act (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") was revised, (2) it became obligatory to work to investigate risks or hazards, etc. and to take measures based on the findings of the investigation, and (3) international standards, etc. concerning machinery safety were established.In view of these developments, and to ensure further safety in all the stages from the manufacturing to the use of machinery, we have revised the said Guidelines as shown in the attachment hereto.In view of the considerations given below, you are kindly requested to disseminate the Guidelines among entities engaged in the designing, manufacturing, remodeling, etc. or importing (hereinafter referred to as "manufacturing, etc.") of machinery and employers who cause workers to use machinery, and to provide them with the necessary guidance, etc., thereby working to prevent industrial accidents caused by machinery more effectively.

Please know also that we have requested related associations of employers as well to cooperate by working to disseminate the Guidelines and do related work according to Attachments 1 and 2.

This notice supersedes Notice No. 501.

Note

1.Purpose of the Guidelines

The Guidelines should present standards concerning comprehensive safety policies applicable to all machinery, and should aim to ensure that both entities engaged in machinery manufacturing, etc. and employers who cause workers to use machinery work to ensure machinery safety according to the Guidelines.

The Guidelines do present concrete protective measures to be carried out in the safe manufacturing of machinery and the safe use of machinery.Protective measures, on the other hand, should not be limited to these.Entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery and employers who cause workers to use machinery should carry out presumably effective protective measures according to the risks or hazards, etc. of specific machines.

2.Procedure for ensuring machinery safety according to the Guidelines

The procedure for ensuring machinery safety according to the Guidelines should be as shown in the attached chart.

3.Action items of entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery

(1) Protective measures to be carried out by entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery
- a) To ensure machinery safety, the first step should be for entities engaged in the manufacturing, etc. of machinery to investigate the risks or hazards, etc. of machinery for manufacturing, etc., to consider whether adequate risk reductions have been achieved, and, based on the findings thereof, to carry out protective measures.
- b) In carrying out protective measures, it should be regarded as important to put priority on carrying out the protective measures for reducing risks securely.It should be regarded as necessary to put priority on carrying out protection policies for the equipment independently of the knowledge, safety awareness, etc. of workers operating the machinery according to the order of priority in Second, 6 (1) of the Guidelines, thereby achieving adequate risk reductions.It should be regarded as inadequate to depend carelessly on protective measures of low priority ratings because of cost increases, operability declines, etc.
(2) Provision of information for use
- a) Protective measures of machinery should as a rule be adequately carried out by entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery.However, for residual risks that could not be removed or reduced by protective measures by entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery shall be regarded as something to be provided as part of the information for use.
- b) For employers who cause workers to use machinery to perform appropriately the investigation, etc. of risks or hazards, etc. as set forth in Article 28-2 of the Act, it is indispensable for entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery to provide the necessary information about the use of the said machinery.According to Second, 6 (1) c) of the Guidelines, therefore, it should be regarded as important that entities engaged in manufacturing, etc. of machinery should provide the entity receiving the transfer or loan of the said machinery with the information for use by using appropriate means.

4.Action items of employers who cause workers to use machinery

(1) Employers who cause workers to use machinery should confirm the information for use provided by the entity engaged in manufacturing, etc. of the said machinery, investigate the risks or hazards, etc. of machinery as set forth in 28-2 of the Act, and consider and carry out appropriate protective measuresaccording to the findings of the investigation.
(2) The order of priorities of protective measures is as shown in Third, 8 (1) of the Guidelines.It should be regarded as inappropriate to depend carelessly on protective measures of low priority ratings because of cost increases, operability declines, etc.