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How to hang on to green fingers! ISO standard to ensure safe operation of hedge trimmers

2009-09-28

A new ISO standard will help to eliminate or reduce the safety risks associated with the use of hedge trimmers.

ISO 10517:2009, Powered hand-held hedge trimmers – Safety, applies to the design and construction of single operator hand-held hedge trimmers with integrally driven petrol combustion engines. The standard outlines safety requirements and provides guidelines for verifying their correct application, taking into consideration all the significant hazards, dangerous situations and events that may arise when used as intended.

In addition, the standard specifies what type of information manufacturers should provide to ensure safe operation of the product, including warnings and markings.

Ken Goodman, Project Editor of ISO 10517:2009 says, “This new edition of the standard replaces the original ISO 10517:1993, with a fully revised document. The standard now features noise and vibration requirements, as well as a table listing the most significant risks. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has already adopted the standard as EN ISO 10517.”

“This new standard will provide up-to-date valuable guidance to manufactures and retailers of hedge trimmers worldwide. Compliance with this standard will protect their customers and reassure them of the safety of their products,” concluded Mr. Goodman.

ISO 10517:2009, Powered hand-held hedge trimmers – Safety, was developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 23, Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry, subcommittee SC 13, Powered law and garden equipment. The standard is available from ISO national member institutes (see the complete list with contact details). It may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat, price 150 Swiss francs, through the ISO Store or by contacting the Marketing, Communication and Information department (see right-hand column).