Safety standard compiled for packaging

ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006 safety standard for packaging and packaging-related converting machinery is now harmonized with the international (ISO) and European (EN) standards.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) has published the new ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006 safety standard for packaging and packaging-related converting machinery.

This revised version, approved as an American National Standard, is harmonized with the international (ISO) and European (EN) standards by the introduction of hazard identification and risk assessment as the principal method for analysing hazards to personnel and achieving acceptable risk.

The requirements of this standard apply to new, modified or rebuilt industrial and commercial machinery that performs packaging functions for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging.

The standard describes procedures for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and reducing risks to an acceptable level over the life cycle of the packaging machinery.

"Both suppliers and users of packaging machinery have responsibilities for defining and achieving acceptable risk for operating specific equipment," stated Fred Hayes, director of technical services, PMMI.

"Although the responsibilities of the supplier and the user differ over the life cycle of the packaging machinery, under the revised standard, each uses the same risk assessment process.

The supplier and the user either separately or jointly identify hazards, then assess and reduce risks to an acceptable level within the scope of their respective work activities." This edition of the standard integrates the requirements of ISO 12100 parts 1 and 2, and ISO 14121, as well as US standards.

Suppliers meeting the requirements of ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006 should conform to the requirements of these three ISO standards.

This will facilitate meeting the requirements for CE certification.

"The driver for harmonizing the international (ISO), European and ANSI/PMMI standards is to achieve a 'one standard, one conformity assessment, ship anywhere' status for manufacturers," added Hayes.

"The revised B155.1 standard gives real world guidance on how to conduct the recommended risk assessment, ultimately helping manufacturers build safer and more productive machinery that can be shipped all over the world." For the past 34 years, PMMI has been recognised by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as an accredited "standards developing organisation" (SDO).

PMMI's standards development procedures have been approved by ANSI as meeting ANSI's "essential requirements" of due process and balance.

The first version of the PMMI B155.1 standard was approved as an American National Standard Institute in 1973.

The 2006 edition of the standard, also the fifth revision approved by the ANSI Board of Standards Review, underwent the most substantial revisions since its inception.

The final version includes the comments from 28 industry professionals from the entire packaging machinery supply chain.

"We were extremely pleased with the incredible level of industry discussion that took place for this year's revision," noted Hayes.

"The result of this record-setting industry effort is a voluntary safety standard that supports the truly global packaging machinery industry." The B155.1 standards committee included representatives from machinery builders, safety experts, and users of packaging machinery.

organisations participating on the standard committee included: Raque Food Systems, MGS Machine Corporation, Krones, Packaging Technologies, FKI Logistex, Luciano Packaging Technologies, Rockwell Automation, Chubb Insurance, Keller and Heckman LLC, Design Safety Engineering, Association for Manufacturing Technology, Institute of Packaging Professionals, Robotic Industries Association, National Fluid Power Association, Kraft Foods, Kellogg Company, Johnson and Johnson, Pactiv Corporation, Procter and Gamble, and Sara Lee.

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