A method of choosing sensitive protective equipment for making machinery safe

This article proposes a method of choosing sensitive protective equipment (SPE). Incorporated into an overall risk reduction approach like the one proposed by Standard NF EN ISO 12100, it is based firstly on a need specification phase that is essential before selecting such equipment. Then, by seeking to match the resulting specifications with the characteristics of the various pieces of equipment, it is possible to determine the most appropriate solution, and thus to avoid inconveniences such as reduction in availability of the machinery, for example, ultimately leading to the possibility of the equipment being bypassed or overridden. This method is iterative and it can lead to the need being redefined, in particular if no equipment makes it possible to cover the risk in question.
Conversely, in some cases, more than one piece of equipment can satisfy the need. The final choice can then be made on the basis of more subjective criteria, such as the availability of the equipment or indeed the corporate culture.