Each product, whatever is the obligation ofEC MARKING, should be subjected already in the design phase at the risk analysis.
This activity is the most important part of the technical dossier (see Article), and it is absolutely essential.
This intervention, for which there can be applied different methodologies, aims to analyse in detail the mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, environmental, operational characteristics of the machine or of the product in order to highlight possible sources of risk for the user, the operator or for the product itself.
From the analysis of risks, that must be introduced at the beginning of the creation of the product, comes a list of risks that should be eliminated already in the project.
Where this is not possible, and the risk remain in the residual part, there must be mentioned all the countermeasures that the user must take to an appropriate care.
Such information, identified with the term “residual risks”, should be written in the Manual of use and maintenance and reported where possible on the product.
From the above there are two fundamental aspects:
• TheRisk analysis must be performed by a technical, preferibly outside the company organisation, to ensure a vision third. Only with this system are highlighted very often neglected aspects assimilated as routine.
• The implementation of the Manual of use and maintenance must always emerge from an analysis of the risks already carried out. One of the most common errors is actually to achieve firstly the manual, and only in a second time the technical dossier and the analysis of the risks.
