The reasons that led to the revision of the law
Mandatory User Manuals
NEWS IN FORCE
New EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230
We talk more and more often about how the world of work brings forward important issues to promote safety while the data regarding accidents and injuries are worrying
At a European level we are moving to support the intelligent use of machinery through the obligation to study and read manuals.
Precisely in this regard, something new arrives in 2023: it is called the New EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 and it has been officially published in the EU Journal, in order to replace the previous regulations and therefore strengthen the safety measures available.
The EU machinery regulation in force from 2023:
the news
It is a regulation, not a directive: if in the second case we would be talking about an obligation without ifs or buts, the regulation is softer and can be considered a binding rule. Requested to be mandatory from January 2027 and currently only rectified and in force from summer 2023, it is valid for all participating states of the European Union.
Inside there are 76 “whereas” and 52 “articles” all relating to the use of dangerous machinery or safety devices.
It is important that companies move towards a more sustainable way of doing business, for this reason all information must also be accessible via a digital catalog available to employees.
Specialized companies will have to make printable and downloadable digital manuals available for everyone; The acquisition of the manual within one month of purchasing the manual must therefore be free for all customers and consumers who use it.
As long as the machinery has a life cycle, the catalog and related instructions must be kept online for users; it is important that regardless of the launch of new products, these elements remain online for at least 10 years from the registration of the product on the market.
Why is the user manual important?
There is a reason why it was necessary to intervene with a Machinery Directive regarding the use of specific manuals for machinery; if it is true that the world is constantly evolving, it is also important to note how being trained to use new technologies is the only effective way to guarantee safety and make the most of the possibilities.
Compared to previous resources, compliance requires the obligation of user manuals and the presence of a digital manual so as not to necessarily have to produce paper manuals which are extremely expensive but above all impact on the environment.
The reasons that led to the revision of the law
User manuals provide crucial information on the safe and correct use of a machine. This information helps operators understand the potential risks associated with using the machine and take measures to avoid personal injury or property damage.
Providing a complete and clear user manual can reduce the legal liability of the manufacturer or distributor in the event that accidents or damage occur due to improper use of the machine. A detailed manual can demonstrate that the manufacturer has done everything possible to ensure the safe use of the machine.
The user manuals provide detailed instructions on how to install, operate, maintain and repair the machine. This information is essential to ensure the machine operates effectively and reliably over time.
If well designed it can help optimize the performance of the machine. It provides information on how to make the most of your machine’s capabilities, reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency.
They are precious tools for operator training. They provide clear instructions on how to use the machine safely and effectively, helping to reduce the risk of human error.
In the event of problems or faults, a user manual can be a useful reference point for operators and technical support technicians, allowing them to diagnose and resolve problems more efficiently.
Since 2004, Ilias has been improved always with an eye on hi-tech companies.
To date, it is one of the very few LMSs that has an internal archive that can be organized and the possibility of creating blocks of instructions, which can be reused at will as “parts” of mechanical, corporate and behavioral procedures.
If I have to write the manual of a machine, probably customized, I will certainly have parts that are repeated, so in a tool like ILIAS I can take the various parts from the internal archive and place them in all the points where I need them and where these parts are used, minimizing the additional effort of creating the digital manual and with the specificity of that machine, where perhaps the model is the same but different from all the others.
In the near future it will be possible that an artificial intelligence routine will connect to the internal ILIAS database, will check my contents and will be able to generate a glossary or a different type of content starting from the contents of the database.
Do you want to know how e-learning can support you with the digital machine user manual?
