ESAB Sets the Standard for Cutting Systems Safety

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (Florence, SC) has effectively 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.

ESAB continues to play an active role in the definition of safety-related standards and is one of the few companies in the industry to make safety a core cutting system design objective. The firm’s comprehensive package of safety measures – the most robust safety package of its kind – has been developed in close cooperation with cutting systems users throughout the global market.

In addition to compliance with the new EN ISO directive and all applicable industry standards, ESAB provides a variety of innovative and continually improved safety options to ensure optimum worker protection during machine operation. ESAB’s automated cutting systems are designed to provide an optimal balance of precision cutting capability, high productivity, and ease of use for the highest price/performance value.

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.

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