3. Background
The general requirements contained in the
Regulations applied from 1st January 1993 to
all equipment regardless of it’s age.
4. Objectives of the Regulations
The regulations provide a set of requirements
ensuring the provision of safe work
equipment and its safe use, irrespective of
age or place of origin.
5. Definitions
Work Equipment: This includes any
machinery, appliance, apparatus or tool.
Examples include: Hammers, knives, ladders,
drilling machines, power presses, dumper
truck, computer, lift truck, overhead projector.
Use: This means any activity involving work
equipment. This includes starting, stopping,
erecting, installing, dismantling,
programming, setting, using, transporting,
repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing
and cleaning.
6. Definitions
Danger Zone: Means any zone in or around
machinery in which a person is exposed to a
risk to health and safety from contact with a
dangerous part of machinery or a rotating
stock-bar.
7. Main Regulations
Regulation 5: Suitability of work equipment
Regulation 6: Maintenance
Regulations 8 & 9: Information, instruction
and training
Regulation 10: Conformity
Regulation 11: Dangerous parts of machinery
8. Main Regulations
Regulation 12: Protection against specified
hazards
Regulations 14 -18: Controls and control
systems
Regulation 22: Maintenance operations
Regulation 23 & 24: Markings and Warnings
9. Suitability of Work Equipment
Under Regulation 5 the employer is required
to:
Ensure that work equipment is suitable for the
purpose for which it is used.
Selection of work equipment must have
regard to working conditions and any
additional risks posed by the use of work
equipment.
The equipment must only be used for
operations for which it is suitable.
10. Maintenance
Regulation 6 requires the equipment to be
properly maintained, and have an up to date
maintenance log where one is kept.
Regulation 22 states as far as reasonably
practicable, maintenance operations are to be
done while the work equipment is stopped.
If not, other protective measures are to be
taken, unless maintenance people can do the
work without exposure to a risk to health and
safety.
11. Information, Instruction &
Training
Under Regulation 8 users and supervisors of
equipment must be given adequate health &
safety information, and where appropriate,
specified written instructions relating to the
use of work equipment.
Regulation 9 covers user and supervisor
training, including work methods, risks and
precautions.
12. Conformity
All equipment must bear a CE
mark and a copy of the EC
Declaration of Conformity
must be obtained before using
the equipment (Regulation
10).
The supplier of the equipment
has a legal duty to CE mark
the equipment.
13. Specific Requirements
Specific requirements are designed to reduce
the risk to employees from dangerous parts
of machinery under Regulation 11. This
includes measures to prevent access to
dangerous parts of machinery and to stop
movement of any dangerous part before
someone enters the danger zone.
These measures must consist of guards or
protection devices as far as is reasonably
practicable, and detailed requirements
relating to them are established.
14. Preventative Measures
In selecting preventative measures the
regulations set out a hierarchy on four levels,
these are:
Fixed, enclosing guards to the extent
practicable, but where not -
Other guards or protection devices to the
extent practicable, but where not -
Protection appliances (jigs, pushsticks etc)
to the extent practicable,
Provision of information, instruction, training
and supervision and PPE.
15. Machinery Guarding
Guards and devices are to be:
Suitable for the purpose
Of good construction, sound material and
adequate strength
Adequately maintained, in good repair and
efficient working order
Not the source of additional risk to health &
safety
Not easily bypassed or disabled
16. Machinery Guarding
Guards and devices are to be:
Situated at sufficient distance from the
danger zone
Not unduly restrictive of any necessary view
of the machine
Constructed or adapted to allow maintenance
or part replacement without removing them
17. Specified Hazards
Exposure of a person to specified hazards
must be prevented by the employer as far as
reasonably practicable or adequately
controlled where it is not (Regulation 12).
The specified hazards are:
Ejected or falling parts
Rupture or disintegration of parts of the work
equipment
18. Specified Hazards
Fire or overheating of the work equipment
The unintended or premature discharge or
ejection of any article or any gas, dust,
liquid, vapour or other substance
produced, used or stored in the work
equipment.
The unintended or premature explosion of
the work equipment or any material
produced, used or stored in it.
19. Controls and Control
Systems
Specific requirements relate to the provision,
location, use and identification of control
systems and controls on work equipment
(Regulations 14-18). These relate to:
Stop controls
Emergency stop controls
Controls in general and control systems
Starting or making a significant change in
operating conditions
20. Warnings
Employers must ensure that all work
equipment has clearly visible markings where
appropriate (Regulation 23) and any
warnings or warning devices appropriate for
health and safety (Regulation 24).
Warnings will be inappropriate unless they
are unambiguous, easily perceived and easily
understood.
21. Employees Duties
Employees should follow a simple system for
checking work equipment before they start
using it. This check will enable them to
ensure that any faults found are rectified
before use.
22. Summary
These regulations outline the general
duties that management must comply
with to fulfill health and safety
responsibilities.
Failure to comply with these regulations
could lead to serious injury to employees
or visitors or damage to machinery or
equipment.
Failure to comply may also result in
prohibition or improvement notices being
issued, fines and in extreme cases
imprisonment.