The UK Government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards has recently issued a safety warning for a Chinese-manufactured bottle-producing machine due to its inadequate safety guarding.
The Blow Mould Machine was marketed between 2017 and 2022 and produced by Zhangjiagang Bottle Machinery Co Ltd, based in China’s Jiangsu province. The manufacturer has assigned the model number as ’30TON’ and the code 84773020.
In marketing materials, the manufacturer has also named the equipment as ‘European type bottle machine’ and ‘Automatic Bottle Blowing Machine’.
The automatic injection blow mould machine is designed to make plastic containers and bottles. It can be deployed to make plastic containers for pharmaceutical, beverage, cosmetics and pesticide producers.
What to do if you’re using this machinery
According to the government report, there is a high risk of entrapment due to inadequate safety guarding on moving parts in the moulding area. If a machine user accesses these parts, this could raise a risk of entrapment and/or injury.
The report notes the machine has been withdrawn from sale and that it falls short of the UK’s Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 legislation.
In conclusion, the report strongly advises that users should risk assess the machine using guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on blow moulding machines. It advises paying particular attention to “the performance level of any interlock switches present”.
However, we believe the performance level of the circuit containing the switch, rather than the switch alone, should attract your focus. This will measure the safety circuit’s reliability, taking into account the circuit’s architecture along with the reliability and suitability of components.
Avoid disappointment and unexpected costs
This situation reinforces the importance of applying UKCA/CE audits on equipment before it is delivered to your site. It’s an option that may seem unattractive due to initial cost, but for the long term, it can save money and effort.
It also ensures you comply with regulation 10 of PUWER, with correct UKCA/CE marking and enables manufacturers the opportunity to resolve potential issues before the equipment is in place.
Remember it is a legal requirement to carry out a PUWER inspection following the installation process and before first use. Under regulation 11 of PUWER, the safety guarding inadequacy of this machine would be highlighted.
If you’re unsure of what to do, get in touch with us for a PUWER assessment. We’ll carry out these actions for you:
- Check your blow moulding machines
- Ensure risks are identified
- Provide advice on introducing improvements to the machine where the manufacturer has fallen short
- Check other machines for similar problems
Use our contact form to request a PUWER assessment for your business.
