Machine safety consultant reminds operators of new regulatory duties

A Leuze consultant is advising those end users operating equipment of their responsibilities as the new Machinery Regulation arrives next year.

From 20 January 2027, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 leaves equipment manufacturers with responsibility for compliance when machinery is first placed on the market. But as Leuze points out, the regulation introduces expanded responsibilities for operators throughout the machine's operational lifecycle.

Specifically, says senior safety consultant Markus Erdorf, the updated regulation introduces new requirements covering cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and substantial machine modifications. Under the new rules, operators making significant changes to existing machinery may themselves be considered ‘manufacturers’, requiring them to perform risk assessments, maintain technical documentation and complete conformity assessments before returning systems to production.

"Organisations should begin reviewing their machinery, documentation, cybersecurity strategies and modification procedures now rather than waiting for the implementation deadline," Erdorf recommends. "The responsibility for machine safety no longer ends when equipment is commissioned."

One of the most notable developments within the new Machinery Regulation is the integration of cybersecurity into requirements. Organisations will need to protect machinery against unauthorised access, data manipulation and other cyber risks, while demonstrating compliance through appropriate documentation and risk assessments.

Leuze recommends that operators: review the Regulation requirements sooner rather than later; work closely with machinery manufacturers and system integrators; document all safety-related modifications and inspections; and evaluate whether planned machine changes qualify as ‘substantial modifications’.

Operators will also need to monitor evolving standards, says Leuze, relating to machinery safety, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).

Leuze says the company supports manufacturers and operators with machine safety consulting, risk assessments, training and engineering services.

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www.leuze.co.uk