On September 15, 2009 Russia adopted new technical rules for the safety of machines and systems, which will take effect on October 1, 2010.
These regulations define basic safety and health requirements for machines and equipment in all life cycle phases, from design to disposal. more

The machinery directive 2006/42/EC is also applied in Switzerland. 
Negotiations between Switzerland and the EU whether Swiss companies would have to look for a document officer located in the EU are now completed.more

On November 25, 2009, the European Commission published directive 2009/127/EC as an amendment of the directive 2006/42/EC regarding machinery for pesticide application. The directive took effect on December 15, 2009.more

The VDI has given notice that the draft of “Technische Dokumentation, Dokumentationsprozess: Planen – Gestalten – Erstellen” (“Technical documentation and documentation process: planning - design - production”) (Sheet 4) of VDI Guideline 4500 is now available.more

The Internet portal http://eu-china-standards.eu now offers useful information on regulatory issues, standards and the various standards systems in Europe and China.more

Necessary use of hazardous substances is not a design error.more

In November and December 2009 we are offering selected seminars in collaboration with EPLAN, the software provider for global engineering solutions.more

Official gazette notice C 214/01 appeared on September 8, 2009: Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of the Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC.

As of 2010, the Chrysler automobile manufacturing group will no longer print complete operating manuals for models of the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands in the US.

The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) has made the management of recalls easier for manufacturer, authorized agents and importers headquartered in Germany. Regulatory authorities can now be notified online of defective and dangerous products.

On July 31, 2009 the law for changing the legal provisions for medical devices was published in Part 1 No. 48 of the German Federal Law Gazette (BGBI). The changes will take effect as of March 21, 2010.

A few articles of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC have been changed to conform to the EU Council Decision 1999/468/EC regarding the regulation process with monitoring. The corresponding Regulation (EC) No. 596/2009 of the European Parliament and Council dated June 18, 2009 provides for the changes to be effective as of August 7, 2009.

The new battery was announced in the June 30 edition of the German Federal Law Gazette (BGBI). It is effective as of December 1, 2009, replacing the previous battery ordinance.

The German Medical Devices Act (MPG) requires that the responsible regulatory authority be notified when medical devices are distributed and sold. It also requires clinical documentation for the device which is complete and archived in a way which is traceable. The responsible regulatory authority can require this documentation to be presented for inspection.

A consolidated version of the European standard EN 13445 for unfired pressure vessels will be published in June 2009. It includes all corrections through January 2009.

On May 6, 2009 Directive 2009/26/EC, another amendment of the directive on marine equipment was published in the EU Official Journal.

A new draft of DIN EN ISO 12100 (”Safety of machinery - General principles for design, risk assessment and risk reduction”) was published at the end of March 2009. What is special about this draft of the standard is that it covers the following currently valid standards in a single document.

Kothes! is now also a member of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). 

Background: the relevant directive 71/316/EEC was changed multiple times in significant points.

Recently the Internet portal Spiegel Online published an article on the quality of user instructions. From the German title, which translates to "Congratulations for Senzational Modell", it's clear that the discussion is primarily about excerpts from bad but creatively translated instructions.

 A draft of the changed version is expected in the second half of 2009.

Wolfgang Clement awards the "Top Job" seal of approval for the outstanding personnel work of the technical documentation specialist in Kempen.

Come see us at the tekom spring conference on April 2-3 in Dortmund at stand 22/23.

 

The Federal States Committee for Occupational Safety and Safety Technology (LASI) published the second revised edition of its "Handlungsanleitung für die Ausführung der Marktüberwachung in Deutschland" ("Handbook for Implementing Market Surveillance in Germany").

On February 10, 2009, Lars Kothes will lecture at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Krefeld on technical documentation as a necessary part of every product.  

On December 8, 2008, Lars Kothes will present the XML-based editorial system COSIMA go! (beginning at 10:00 a.m.).

Since the European Council of Ministers decided the concept of the New Approach, more than 20 directives have been approved on this basis. They state the basic requirements for the free movement of goods, safety and health, which are then specifically embodied in standards.

The review of the New Approach is now completed. The regulation for "accreditation and market surveillance" entered into force on September 2, 2008 and will take effect as of January 1, 2010.

The ISO has issued a new standard for the creation of software documentation: ISO/IEC 26514:2008, titled "Systems and software engineering – Requirements for designers and developers of user documentation".

With regard to the topic of farm machine safety, it is often the case that the basic requirements of the machinery directive are difficult to reconcile with the specific conditions in agriculture. This is particularly true for adequate safety distances and/or access to moving parts.

Visit us at the tekom annual meeting from November 5 to 7 in Wiesbaden, Germany in Hall 9, booth 936/946.

The European machinery directive has been incorporated in German law with the 9th regulation (machinery regulation) of the German Equipment and Product Safety Act (GPSG).

The use of measurement units in the EU is nearly harmonized. However, in the United Kingdom and Ireland other, non-metric units for length, area, volume, mass and energy are common. Both countries have an exception rule for the use of these units.

On February 26, 2008, the new law governing the electromagnetic compatibility of operating materials (previously called  equipment) comes into force. A transitional regulation for old equipment states that until July 20, 2009 equipment may still be marketed that has a conformity assessment dated prior to July 20, 2007.

The deadline for implementation of the new machinery directive (2006/42/EC dated May 17, 2006) by all machinery and plant manufacturers is December 29, 2009.

The new machinery directive 2006/42/EC must be implemented in national law by June 29, 2008. In Germany, a "one-to-one" adoption of the directive is planned.

The software producer DOCUFY and Kothes! are jointly developing a new XML editorial system especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This year's "Tag der Arbeitsbühnensicherheit" (working platform safety day) or TABS will be held on June 12, 2008 at the Daimler plant in Wörth. Lars Kothes will be speaking on the significance of operating manuals and the obligation to instruct for manufacturers, rental companies and operators as well as end customers.

Germany's Second Law Regulating Copyright Law in the Information Society (the so-called "second basket" of the copyright reform) further adapts copyright law to the digital age and new technical possibilities.

The Technical Rules for Industrial Safety (Technischen Regeln zur Betriebssicherheit [TRBS]) 2131 regarding "Electrical hazards" were published on November 12, 2007.

Directive 76/769/EEC has thus been updated to limit the marketing and selling of measuring devices containing mercury.

Psychological stress is increasing steadily in all areas of the economy. The dangers arising from such stress should be taken into account in the development of technical work equipment and in its operation as well.

The German Federal Ministry for Labor and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales - BMAS) has the draft of the new machinery ordinance (Maschinenverordnung - MRL). This draft has been passed on for comment to government departments, federal states and districts involved.

In 2007, 3011 companies and individuals were nominated for the SME grand prize ("Großer Preis des Mittelstandes").
Of these, 807 reached the second round of this year's competition as part of the 13th Oskar Patzelt Foundation Day - including Kothes!