Post by NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

🖊️First CE certification as part of the NIOZ Machinery Safety Project 👉As the current Machinery Directive will expire in January 2027 and be replaced by the European Machinery Regulation, last year NIOZ began a risk analysis concerning the machine safety of the machinery and test setups present at NIOZ.   🏗️Last Tuesday, NIOZ Director Han Dolman signed the declaration of conformity for special anchor blocks. These are used for the controlled and safe lowering of cables with sensors overboard. As this application differs from standard lifting work, the design deviates in these respects from the harmonised standard for lifting blocks. By signing this declaration NIOZ formally states that these anchor blocks are safe for their intended use and comply with the applicable requirements. In this way, NIOZ, as the manufacturer, also explicitly assumes that responsibility. 💪Health and Safety Coordinator Joep van Haaren explains: “It has been a challenge to comply with the Machinery Directive. By thoroughly identifying the risks and incorporating appropriate control measures into the design from the outset, we have nevertheless reduced the residual risk to an acceptable level." He adds :“The process has not only resulted in a safe and practical product, but also provided many valuable insights and a solid foundation for future projects.”