<<

Chapter 15 EQUIPMENT SAFETY

There are actually two Equipment Regulations, which affect you.

The first is The Supply of Machinery (Safety ) Regulations 1992

These regulations require :

• all new equipment supplied after 1/1/93 to comply with the standards of the Regulations
• ALL NEW EQUIPMENT after 1/1/95 must carry a CE mark.
• ALL EXISTING EQUIPMENT to comply with the standards of the Regulations by 1/1/97.

The basic requirement is that ALL EQUIPMENT must carry a CE mark or be up to that standard by 1/1/97!!

CE

The CE Mark means that the manufacturer has carried out all the necessary research or tests on components, fittings or the completed machine to determine whether in its design and construction the machine is capable of being erected or put into service safely.

At 1/1/97 ALL EQUIPMENT used must conform to the CE standard. If your equipment does not have a CE mark you will have to upgrade - this could be achieved by an upgrade provided by the manufacturer or upgrading it in your own workshop to that standard.

If you are considering upgrading the equipment yourself, make sure you are competent and have the necessary skills - once more I would warn you, botched upgrades may be more dangerous than the original equipment.

The second regulation is The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98)

These regulations are designed to ensure that all equipment is properly used and serviced and details responsibilities and duties of an employer:

Employers must ensure that

• the equipment has, or is up to the standard of, the CE Mark
• The equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is being used - taking account of any foreseeable working conditions, inherent Health & Safety Risks, where the equipment is to be used and any risks associated with the equipment itself.
• The equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, in good repair and it is recommended that maintenance records are kept
• where the work equipment poses a Specific Risk to Health & Safety , the use and maintenance of such equipment is restricted to designated persons who have received adequate training in the operations they have been designated to carry out
• all persons using equipment to have adequate Health & Safety information and where appropriate written instructions on use of such equipment, Health & Safety training as required in the use of the equipment including any associated risks and necessary precautions. This similarly applies to those who supervise and manage the use of work equipment
• instructions should be understandable and include the conditions and methods of use of the equipment, foreseeable abnormal situations and any necessary actions and also any conclusions from previous use of the equipment
• consideration must be given to employees whose native language is not English - both in instructions and in signing
• consideration must also be given to the additional requirements of young and inexperienced staff.

..

Particular reference is made to :

• guarding of dangerous parts of machinery, and the maintenance of these guards
• the controls- especially stop controls
• stability of the equipment - possibility of the equipment falling over
• Lighting of the control area and the work area
• Markings and warningsmust be clear, relevant and unambiguous.

This is all basically covered in a RISK ASSESSMENT

1. List your equipment - check if they have a CE Mark
2. List your Safe Working Practices for that equipment - remember to check any specific requirements in the manufacturers instruction booklet
3. List the staff who are trained and competent to use that equipment
4. Consider the areas in which the equipment is being used

You now have the basis of your EQUIPMENT RISK ASSESSMENT.

The legislation requires us to check equipment regularly - frequency depending on use - minimum for our use is probably every three months in season

This basically falls into four LEVELS of checks

1. General Checks apply on almost any equipment
2. Group Checks apply to a particular group of machines
3. Item Checks apply to this particular machine
4. Highlight Checks your own knowledge, manufacturers instructions, or HSE information sheets may show these to be a problem in this particular type of equipment.

An example would be

Date .................

PEDESTRIAN ROTARY MOWER - WHEELED

• Checks : General
  • machine generally clean
  • examine the machine for loose or damaged components
  • grease & oil points lubricated
  • no defects which affect the safe operation

• Checks : Controls
  • emergency stop controls
  • shields & guards are undamaged and secure
• Checks : Item
  • blades secure
  • casing intact and secure
  • Safety labels (Noise) present
• Checks : Highlight
  • blades intact
  • height able to be adjusted

Checked by ........................................

<<