Background

When certifying highly advanced machine or equipment, the existing manufacturing and safety standards are outdated compared to the modern high technology leading to non-existence of the relevant standards. Moreover, the items subject to safety certification and autonomous safety certification reporting have changed as of Mar 1, 2013.

Major issues

According to the manufacturing and safety standards for press, shearing machine, and press brake, protection device must be attached for certification. However, the required protection device is very much old-fashioned not suitable for equipment annexed with the state-of-the-art laser technology. Since the notification is enforced without clear standards for the advanced press brakes (advanced: laser safe-type, current: photoelectronic-type), certification cannot be obtained for such items, which leads to great difficulties for production and distribution.

The Office of Foreign Investment Ombudsman (OFIO) received the grievance and contacted the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) to listen to the agency’s opinion and request cooperation. During consultation with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), the issues related to the amendment of the notification in order to newly establish the standard was discussed.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor Notification No. 2015-20 was newly established with the standard for attaching state-of-the-art laser-type protection device, leading to the amendment of the Notification on the Mandatory Safety Certification of Hazardous Machine and Equipment.