Revised Packaging Machinery Safety Standard Completed

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 by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, is harmonized with the International Standards Organization (ISO) and European Norm (EN) standards by the introduction of hazard identification and risk assessment as the principal method for analyzing hazards to personnel and achieving acceptable risk.

Risk reduction

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, says PMMI, an industry trade association based in Arlington, Va. 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,” says Fred Hayes, PMMI director of technical services. “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 U.S. standards. Suppliers meeting the requirements of ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006 should conform to the requirements of these three ISO standards.

One standard

“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,” adds 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.”

The new ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006 safety standard for packaging and packaging-related converting machinery is available for $65 on www.pmmi.org or by contacting Hayes at fhayes@pmmi.org or 1-888-ASK-PMMI (275-7664).