Wire drawing machines
Wire machinery manufacturing. A 3-step risk analysis tool
Workplace safety is a requirement when creating a healthy and stable work environment for all employees. Of course, the company itself must eliminate potential hazards and follow certain standards and safety rules to ensure the wellbeing of the workers. But also, the manufacturers have a great responsibility for machine operation safety and to make sure that the equipment is in accordance with security standards.
At the Sweden-based wire machinery manufacturer Lämneå Bruk, a safety-first policy is implemented in all aspects of their work: Not only in their own workshop but of course also for the machines they built and deliver to their international customers, safety is a must. The family-owned business uses an advanced procedure to ensure that all machines fulfil the latest European safety standards and conduct a thorough 3-step risk analysis to eliminate potential dangers.
Part 1: Designing the Machine and Identifying Potential Risks
The first step starts very early in the design process of each machine to avoid possible hazards and risk with a safe design and/or by adding certain features to eliminate or reduce the anticipated risk.
This part includes identifying the following aspects:
- The source of the risk e.g. moving a spool
- The risk situation and what could happen
- Possible effects if risk occurs
- Risk exposure
- Probability of risk occurring
- Possibility to avoid the risk
After identifying these risk factors, the Lämneå Bruk expert team evaluates current and new safety measures and estimates and assesses the above listed points again.
Part 2: Checking the Technical Components
In the second step, all technical components of the machine undergo a thorough examination.
Each machine is divided into safety functions and all safety functions are again split into subsystems where each safety component is mathematically evaluated. 
The safety evaluation software then creates a complete report describing the different safety functions and the outcome of the mathematical evaluation. This report forms the basis for the continued safety work on the machine and determines what safety components should be used.
Part 3: Testing Each Component
In the third and last step, each safety component is tested and checked extensively. A detailed document outlines the exact test result to ensure highest safety standards according to Europeans laws and beyond for the machines, customers and of course operators.
The safety evaluation software automatically generates a test protocol. During the commission phase, the engineer on-site signs - off the functionality of every safety component in each subsystem to ensure that the machine is safe to operate before it is going into production.
Please contact Lämneå Bruk if you have questions about their broad machine portfolio and their thorough safety process at [email protected] or visit their website www.lamnea.se
