Beware the CE mark, yet again

I make no apologies for being boring about this.

Be VERY cautious when you buy a new machine. Just because it is new, and has the CE mark, it doesn't mean to say it is safe.
The manufacturer is obliged to:

1. Design and build the equipment so that it complies with appropriate essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) and harmonised European standards (HESs). 
2. Assess the equipment for conformity with EHSRs) and (HESs). 
3. Be able to compile a technical file proving conformance. 
4. Draw up a declaration of conformity and affix the CE mark to the equipment.

Note that, with the exception of some equipment like press brakes or injection moulding machines, there is no specialist external inspector; it is the manufacturer's self-certification process.  

Make sure that you specify that the supplier must do the above. If you buy a machine from a UK company (or from a company within the EU), then they are obliged to do this, but quite a few of them don't. In your order, I strongly advice you to state that you will withhold say, 10%, until you are satisfied that the machine dies actually conform to EHSRs and HESs.

If you buy a machine from outside the EU, then YOU are the supplier and you take on the above obligations. If you simply buy a machine, then you may run into trouble when you try to sell it. Again, I strongly advice you to state in your order that you will withhold an amount until you are satisfied that the machine dies actually conform to EHSRs and HESs.

See more about CE marking in SSS White Paper 9.