Every plant or equipment used on site should be compliant in other to carry out the appropriate task. I will be using the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation 1998 (PUWER) to give some highlights of the duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over work equipment. This regulation also places responsibilities on businesses and organisations whose employees use work equipment, whether owned by them or not.
There is various work equipment used in the workplace/on site, some work equipment is subject to other health and safety legislation. An example is lifting equipment, equipment used to carry out lifting work must also meet the Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulation 1998 (LOLER) requirement, Pressure Equipment must meet the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) and Personal Protective Equipment must meet the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
What you should do safely.
If your business or organisation uses work equipment or is involved in providing work equipment for others to use i.e. for hire, you will be required to manage the risks from that equipment. In managing the risk of the use of plants and equipment, the underlisted PUWER Regulations can be followed.
• ensure the equipment is constructed or adapted to be suitable for the purpose it is used or provided for.
• take account of the working conditions and health and safety risks in the workplace when selecting work equipment.
• ensure work equipment is only used for suitable purposes.
• ensure work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
• where a machine has a maintenance log, keep this up to date.
• where the safety of work equipment depends on the manner of installation, it must be inspected after installation and before being put into use.
• where work equipment is exposed to deteriorating conditions liable to result in dangerous situations, it must be inspected to ensure faults are detected in good time so the risk to health and safety is managed.
• ensure that all people using, supervising or managing the use of work equipment are provided with adequate, clear health and safety information. This will include, where necessary, written instructions on its use and suitable equipment markings and warnings.
Following the few guidelines stated above is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. Following the guidance will normally help in doing enough to complying with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.
By Elizabeth Abiodun GradIOSH
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