Overview
EN ISO 23125:2015 - Machine tools - Safety - Turning machines (ISO 23125:2015, corrected 2016-03-15) specifies safety requirements to eliminate hazards or reduce risks for turning machines and turning centres designed primarily to shape metal by cutting. The standard covers four machine groups:
- Group 1: Manually controlled turning machines without NC
- Group 2: Manually controlled turning machines with limited NC capability
- Group 3: Numerically controlled turning machines and turning centres
- Group 4: Single- or multi-spindle automatic turning machines
It also applies to integral ancillary devices (workholding, tooling, handling, chip/fluids equipment) and machines integrated into automatic production lines when hazards are comparable. EN ISO 23125:2015 is the CEN-adopted version of ISO 23125:2015 and supports conformity with relevant EU machinery directives.
Key topics and requirements
The standard addresses significant hazards and sets out safety requirements and/or protective measures, including:
- Hazard identification: Main hazard zones and a comprehensive list of mechanical, electrical, noise, radiation, material and ergonomic hazards.
- Guards and enclosures: Required characteristics for guards across machine groups and impact test methods (Annex A).
- Workpiece clamping & tooling: Safe clamping conditions and tooling instructions.
- Modes of operation: Mandatory and optional machine operation modes and safety implications (manual, NC, automatic).
- Control and safety functions: Protection against unexpected start-up, over-run/over-speed, power or control failures, and variation in rotational speed.
- Ejection and fluids: Requirements for protection from ejected objects and fluids; special guidance for large horizontal/vertical NC machines.
- Verification & performance: Verification of safety measures and examples for determining performance levels for interlocked guards (Annex F).
- Information for use: Marking, instruction content, installation, cleaning, residual risk information.
- Tests and guidance: Annexes include impact test methods, test equipment/materials, energy calculation, checklists for safety functions, exhaust/extinguishing system examples.
Applications and who uses it
EN ISO 23125:2015 is used by:
- Machine manufacturers and designers for safe machine design and CE marking support.
- Safety engineers and compliance officers to verify conformity with machinery safety requirements and EU directives.
- Plant managers and purchasing teams assessing machine safety during procurement and integration into production cells.
- Operators and maintenance personnel for understanding guarding, safe modes of operation, and required instructions.
- Test labs and certification bodies applying the annex test methods and performance-level assessments.
Related standards
EN ISO 23125:2015 is part of the machine tools safety family and is intended to be used alongside relevant electrical, control-system (IEC), and EU machinery-directive standards for full compliance.
Keywords: machine tools safety, turning machines, lathes, ISO 23125, EN ISO 23125:2015, turning centres, guards, risk reduction, CNC safety.