A machine risk assessment looks at how people interact with equipment through its full lifecycle. Production is only one part of that picture. Setup, changeover, jam clearing, cleaning, troubleshooting, maintenance, and foreseeable misuse can expose different hazards.
Define the machine and its tasks
Document machine limits, intended use, materials, energy sources, operating modes, users, and lifecycle phases. Break work into tasks that reveal where people approach, reach into, cross, or work near hazardous motion or energy.
Identify hazards and estimate risk
Consider mechanical, electrical, thermal, pressure, noise, and other relevant hazards. Evaluate hazardous situations using the method selected for the project. Record what information is known, what remains uncertain, and how that uncertainty affects the recommendation.
Select and prioritize measures
Apply the required hierarchy of risk reduction: inherently safer design where practicable, safeguards and protective devices, then information for use. Recommendations should name the hazard they address and explain how the proposed measure changes exposure or risk.
Plan corrective work
Organize findings into clear actions with priorities, responsible parties, and verification needs. For existing equipment, distinguish immediate exposure concerns from longer-term design improvements and document any interim measures agreed by the responsible organization.
Deliverables
Typical records include machine boundaries, task lists, hazard records, risk estimates, recommended measures, photographs or drawing references, action lists, and follow-up verification notes.