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Do you know everything you need to know about your work equipment?

This means any machine, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at your place of work.

Inspection Regime

A task that determines whether the equipment can be operated, adjusted and maintained safely and that any deterioration can be detected.

Legislation

The definition of work equipment is very wide and covers almost everything used during a work activity. All work equipment is covered under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). This regulation covers the use, maintenance and inspection of all work equipment and requires that equipment provided for use at work is:

• Suitable for the intended use
• Safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and does not subsequently deteriorate
• Used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training
• Accompanied by suitable health and safety measures, such as protective devices and controls. These will normally include emergency stop devices, adequate means of isolation from sources of energy, clearly visible markings and warning devices
• Used in accordance with specific requirements, for mobile work equipment and power presses

Regulation 6 requires that, where work equipment can deteriorate to a dangerous level, it must be inspected at suitable intervals. These intervals will depend upon the risk and rate of deterioration. The extent of the inspection will also depend on the potential risk and should be carried out by a person competent for the task.

The inspection required under regulation 6 can be carried out by the user by means of simple checks, which could verify items from functionality to a much deeper and detailed inspection by a competent person.

There are no fixed frequencies for equipment covered under PUWER but will depend on the installation and how quickly machinery and safety devices are likely to deteriorate.

Examples of work equipment:

• Dock levellers
• Conveyor systems
• Tractors
• Bulldozers/loading shovels
• Escalators
• Guarded process machinery

We are happy to assist in reviewing what you have, and each requirement based on your specific asset database. We are a specialist technical asset management consultancy, providing independent technical and digital solutions across the built environment. Our ELIAS software provides clients across the globe with holistic and dynamic asset management and compliance solutions.

Keep up to date with industry best practice and legislative changes by signing up to our technical bulletins via our website. Alternatively, you can contact one of our technical team members who will be happy to help you further with your enquiry.

 Further reading

REAMS

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

Note:

The above guidelines are relevant with UK legislation and intended to steer building owners, operators, occupiers and maintenance providers with greater levels of knowledge of the obligations placed upon them.