Machine safety standards address safety issues related to the design of machinery and associated systems, devices and components. They also contain provisions on the life-cycle management of machinery. 

There are three levels of machine standards:

• General A standards, basic safety and risk assessment standards applicable to all machinery (12100:2010 and 14121-1 and -2) 
• Type B standards deal with a single safety aspect, for example noise, dust, safety device. 
• Type C is machine type specific, more detailed structural aspects. 

The process of designing a piece of machinery should include determining whether there is a type C standard that concerns it. If there is one, it usually controls which type B standards are required and which requirements of type A standards may need to be complied with. The requirements of type C standards always take precedence over those of type B standards. The purpose of type C standards is to set out precise and detailed product specific safety requirements (risk mitigation) to meet the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive and Annex I of the Machinery Decree. 

The presumption of conformity can only be obtained by complying with a harmonised standard. 

Sources of more information about machine safety standards:

• Finnish Standards Association SFS
• Mechanical Engineering and Metals Industry Standardization in Finland METSTA
• Electrotechnical Standardization in Finland SESKO ry. 

For example the risk assessment and the identification of risk factors can be carried out using standards SFS- EN ISO 14121, SFS-EN ISO 12100 sections 1 and 2 as well as machine specific standards.