DC Braking

I have looked into D.C.Braking and wondered if any one out their would like to add a few comments that I can publish with the authors name. (only if they wish)

From what I can see this came in to effect on the 5th of December 1998 under the "Provisions of Use of Work Equipment Regulation. This was a huge blow to the timber machining industry and cost and absolute fortune and needless to say I am sure it cost a great deal of small businesses to close down because they were unable to conform to the new legislation because of the finantial burden placed on them.

I am sure that most of us in the Timber trade have understood what DCB has been around for many years, but when it hit us in 1998 questions flew about like leaves in the wind.

I question it my self being a machinist since the early 1980's when we just hit the stop button and walked away knowing that every one in the shop understood the danger of rotating knives. We even had a silent code of practice, and this was touch the table or bed first, if it is still vibrating the block is still rotating, and it worked.

I quote.
"Employers will be required to fit braking on machines to safely reduce the run down time,where the risk assessment shows necessary"

A dead line was also set.

5th December 2003.

Circular saw benches, Dimension saw benches, Powered and hand fed crosscut saws, Single and double end tenoners.

5th December 2005

Narrow band saws, Re-saws, vertical spindle moulders, Hand fed routing machines, Thicknessing / planing machines, Surface planing machines.

Wood working machinery not listed above, which a risk assessment shows braking to be necessary, must comply by 5th December 2008

The regulations apply to all users of woodworking machinery and these include:

Schools, Colleges, Joinery Companies, Timber suppliers, Furniture manufacturer's, Forestry, Double Glazing companies, Door and window manufacturers, DIY warehouses (eg B&Q). Other wood product manufacturing.

After all this fuss it looks like we are now going to ignore it and carry on as if it never happened or doesn't exist. Who do we blame ? I can tear these comments to pieces and send them to the H.S.E but you're opinions would be appreciated and confidential.

Food for thought:

You can not sell a vertical spindle moulder with out DCB!! What if it has a fixed power feed unit to cover the tooling?

All names addresses and telephone numbers will bell deleted for any publication unless requested otherwise but will be kept on record for my reply to you.