Emergency Stop Switch for CE?

[farmer2]

Does CE (machinery directive) require an emergency stop switch for a 12 or 24 VDC electric winch? Winch would be used mostly in pulling loads on level or inclines, no hoisting.

There are no harmonized standards for winches but under the directives, is an emergency shut down switch (other than the normal on/off remote control switch) required?

Thanks,

 

[Blackcountryman]

Under the directive 98/37/EC. All manufacturers must produce safe machines, complying with the safety requirements.
Compliance with a harmonised standard, such as EN 418 for emergency stop functions, is a method of showing compliance.
The control system in general will need to comply with EN 60204-1 Safety of machines.
In practice you need to carry out a risk assesment for the machine and its operation, EN 1050 is the standard for the evaluation of risk.. The risks due to electric shock may be low for a 12 or 24V system but this is only one factor. You need to consider all of the possible dangerous phenomena, mechanical hazards, electrical hazards, physical & chemical hazards. These will give you a catergory ranging from B throught to 4. The standards then tell you what if any redundance and monitoring is required. You also have to consider how a fault in the safety system would be detected.
That is a brief outline of the procedure. Without knowing the aplication it is not possible to give an answer. But you probably do need some level of safety stop.
You need to document the above process, you may one day be asked to prove that you had given consideration to all of these factors. If you are CE marking the product and you can't sell it in the EU without the mark, this information should be kept in the technical file.
For more information go to one of the major manufactures web sites such as

http://www.telemecanique.com

if you select the UK you can download a safety solutions catalogue with a lot more data.
One final point in the UK, and I think in most other EU countries, if someone is injured the prosicution is under criminal not civil law. This means you cannot insure against the risk. Also as the design engineer you are libal as well as your organisation.
Sorry for a long reply but if you get it wrong you can end in jail on a manslaughter or murder charge.
In practice it does not take long to do