Whether you’re hoping to increase business in North America, or looking to export markets to grow profits, risk assessment isn’t just an invaluable tool, it’s a necessity.

“Last year, six of U.S. packaging’s top 16 export markets were in Europe,” noted Fred Hayes, director of technical services, PMMI. “Those six countries alone accounted for over $140 million in U.S. packaging machinery purchases, and every one of those purchases had one thing in common: They all required risk assessment documentation.”

In addition to being a European requirement (EU machinery directive 2006/42/EC), risk assessment is a driving force domestically: Big players like Procter & Gamble are requiring suppliers to conduct risk assessments. Others are making sure their employees can conduct risk assessments, too.

“Last year, General Mills demonstrated the importance of risk assessment to its business by hosting a risk assessment training event on site at their facility,” Hayes added.  General Mills has also purchased and deployed PMMI’s Packsafe software throughout North America.

Throughout the year, PMMI trains manufacturers and end users to develop risk assessment processes for their own machinery. PMMI’s Risk Assessment Training focuses on the legal ramifications of risk assessment, as well as the how-to’s of the process and how it fits into regulations and requirements across the globe.

Hayes and design safety engineering, inc., president Bruce Main will conduct PMMI’s upcoming Risk Assessment Training event, Feb. 9–10, in Clearwater, Fla. Registration for the event is live, online at PMMI.org.

May 17 – 18
Church & Dwight
Princeton, NJ

June 14 – June 15
Columbia Machine Inc.
Vancouver, WA

October 31 – November 1
Held in conjunction with PACK EXPO International 2012
McCormick Place
Chicago, Ill.