Delft University of Technology
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Transport Technology



M.A. de Jong Beoordeling van risico-analyse methoden.
Literature survey, Report 96.3.LT.4786, Transport Technology, Transport Engineering


A CE-mark on a product shows that the product concerned satisfies the Machinedirectrix. The Machinedirectrix prescribes minimumdemands for safety, health, environment and consumer protection. Application of harmonized norms can prevent much work. The European Commission has ordered to raise these norms. According to the principle of supposition-of-agreement, a manufacturer who satisfies the harmonized norms, satisfies the Machinedirectrix too.

Risk assessment is a part of the procedure for CE-marking. Several methods for risk analysis are available for this risk assessment. The comparing methods as checklists, the fundamental methods as Hazard and Operability Studies and the logic diagram methods as Fault Tree Analysis. It is important to document the results and the remarks accurately.

To weigh the measures for eliminating of reducing the risks, the risks have to be estimated or quantified. Some methods for risk analysis can simply be completed with a quantitative analysis. Other methods require a separate risk estimation procedure. A Relative Ranking method can be used for this. In this case, risk has to be seen as a product of chance and effect. The results have to be handled carefully, because they are mostly less accurate than they seem to be.

It has to be known which risks are acceptable, for deciding which risks have to be reduced or eliminated. Acceptance lines has to be defined for this. Societal acceptance of risks defines these lines. It is important to be able to compare the risks found with risks known.


Reports on Transport Engineering (in Dutch)
Modified: 2000.12.10; logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl , TU Delft / 3mE / TT / LT.