Esab Welding & Cutting Products has implemented the new European EN ISO standard 17916 for the safety of thermal-cutting machines.
Esab spearheaded the initiative to establish the new EN ISO standard, which provides enhanced worker safety, and is the first and only cutting systems manufacturer to currently stand in full compliance. Going forward, all cutting systems manufactured at Esab’s Karben, Germany, facility will meet the new EN ISO safety requirements, which are scheduled to go into effect industry-wide in late 2014.
The new EN ISO standard mandates that OEMs conduct their own evaluation and testing for the safety of their thermal cutting machines. The standard defines the potential risks to cutting systems operators and the measures to counter them.
ISO (the international Organization for standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies) and the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards. Esab is the first company in the world to achieve all-inclusive external certification for the three key management standards – ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001. The Environmental, Health, and Safety Management System and certification covers all activities, people, and units in ESAB globally.