BS EN 12012-4:2019+A1:2021

What is BS EN 12012‑4 about?  

BS EN 12012‑4 is the fourth part of the Plastics and rubber machines multi-series standards.  

BS EN 12012‑4 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations, and events relevant to agglomerators for the modification of plastic scraps in their form, size and flow characteristics, when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex A). The hazards have been identified taking into account all phases of the machine life cycle according to EN ISO 12100:2010. 

This type-C standard is different from those which are stated in type-A or type-B standards. The requirements of this type-C standard take precedence over the requirements of the other standards for machines that have been designed and built according to the requirements of this type-C standard. 

Note: This document does not cover:  

• Hazards due to emissions by processing materials that could be hazardous to health 
• Hazards caused by the ignition of flammable residues in material to be processed 
• Requirements for exhaust ventilation systems 
• Agglomerators moved by pneumatic and/or hydraulic energy 

Note: BS EN 12012‑4 is not applicable to agglomerators manufactured before the date of its publication 

Who is BS EN 12012‑4 for? 

BS EN 12012‑4 on Plastics and rubber machines is relevant to these stakeholder groups representing market players with regard to machinery safety: 

• Machine manufacturers (small, medium, and large enterprises) 
• Health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance, etc.) 

Others can be affected by the level of machinery safety achieved with the means of the document by the above-mentioned stakeholder groups: 

• Machine users/employers (small, medium and large enterprises) 
• Machine users/employees (e.g., trade unions, organizations for people with special needs) 
• Service providers, e.g., for maintenance (small, medium and large enterprises) 
• Consumers (in case of machinery intended for use by consumers). 

Why should you use BS EN 12012‑4?  

Agglomerators are machines that break down plastic scraps into granular form so that they can be recycled. Agglomerators operate at a continuous rate and are prone to various kinds of hazards. 

BS EN 12012‑4 will help you identify the hazards that might befall the agglomerator during normal use or under any reasonable misuse conditions. BS EN 12012‑4 considers all phases of the agglomerator’s lifecycle. Mechanical, thermal, noise, hazards due to dust, fumes, and gases, and electrical energy hazards are covered by BS EN 12012‑4. BS EN 12012‑4 will also provide appropriate solutions to tackle these issues and help you to verify if your machinery is complying with the minimum safety requirements. 

Conforming with BS EN 12012‑4 will help you to create a safe working environment for your workers and will also help keep the machinery in an optimum functioning state