18.Protection against mechanical and thermal risks
18.1.Devices shall be designed and manufactured in such a way as to protect users and other persons against mechanical risks.
18.2.Devices shall be sufficiently stable under the foreseen operating conditions. They shall be suitable to withstand stresses inherent to the foreseen working environment, and to retain this resistance during the expected lifetime of the devices, subject to any inspection and maintenance requirements as indicated by the manufacturer.
18.3.Where there are risks due to the presence of moving parts, risks due to break-up or detachment, or leakage of substances, then appropriate protection means shall be incorporated.
Any guards or other means included with the device to provide protection, in particular against moving parts, shall be secure and shall not interfere with access for the normal operation of the device, or restrict routine maintenance of the device as intended by the manufacturer.
18.4.Devices shall be designed and manufactured in such a way as to reduce to the lowest possible level the risks arising from vibration generated by the devices, taking account of technical progress and of the means available for limiting vibrations, particularly at source, unless the vibrations are part of the specified performance.
18.5.Devices shall be designed and manufactured in such a way as to reduce to the lowest possible level the risks arising from the noise emitted, taking account of technical progress and of the means available to reduce noise, particularly at source, unless the noise emitted is part of the specified performance.
18.6.Terminals and connectors to the electricity, gas or hydraulic and pneumatic energy supplies which the user or other person has to handle, shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to minimise all possible risks.
18.7.Errors likely to be made when fitting or refitting certain parts which could be a source of risk shall be made impossible by the design and construction of such parts or, failing this, by information given on the parts themselves and/or their housings.
The same information shall be given on moving parts and/or their housings where the direction of movement needs to be known in order to avoid a risk.