From bottled water and pharmaceutical drugs and to electronics and clothes, packaging machinery is used daily in manufacturing plants around the globe to speed the shipping and distribution of a wide range of consumer goods. The potential risks involved in the operation of these machines depend upon numerous elements, including the type of machinery being used, the condition of the equipment, electrical design, ergonomics and human factors.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), an ANSI-accredited standards developer, recently published a newly revised standard that helps manufacturers and operators of packaging machinery reduce risks of injury within the scope of their respective work activities. ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006 defines a process for use by machine users and suppliers to identify potential hazards, evaluate risks, and employ countermeasures to reduce these risks to an acceptable level.

Taking into account factors such as personnel safety, product quality and machine productivity, the risk assessment process minimizes variation in the safety performance of machines. The standard can be applied to both new and modified packaging machinery and related converting equipment. Because modifications to machinery can introduce new hazards, risk assessment of upgraded equipment is an important element in ensuring personnel safety. The standard is harmonized with existing international and European standards.