Mike Fahey HM Inspector of Health and Safety HSE, Cardiff

Time constraints dictate: I intend to give a brief overview of how you can start to manage safety relating to work equipment. There will be plenty of time at the end for you to ask questions or raise any points (concerns?).

 What is meant by “work equipment”  Law – sorry, it’s got to be done  Use  Supply – CE marking, EU Directives  Machinery guarding  Further guidance

Defined in Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations: “… any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work (whether exclusively or not)”. Examples: Cranes, lifting tackle, FLTs, tractors, … Process machinery – fixed, mobile or portable Hand tools, … Office equipment – staplers, printers, …

Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act - safe plant, i.e., machinery, equipment, appliance - information - instruction - training - supervision

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations - information and instruction, training - guarding - machine controls, isolation - stability - lighting - maintenance - Work equipment conforms to EU requirements

Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act - design, manufacture, import, supply of articles to be safe - provide information and instruction for safe use

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations Implement EU Machinery Directive: All machines SUPPLIED must: - meet Essential Health and Safety Requirements (in EU Machinery Directive) - have a Declaration of Conformity and be CE marked (they meet all EHSRs) - have a Technical File OVERALL THE MACHINE IS SAFE TO USE

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations All “work equipment” IN USE must conform with Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations - CE marked

Essential Health and Safety Requirements - extensive and listed in EU Machinery Directive for all types of equipment - 22 more for mobile equipment - 23 more for lifting equipment I do Not intend going through all of them. In fact, only one set of them >>>

Legal duties common to supplier and user. Apply to all portable (electric saws, grinders, routers …) and fixed machines. Guards to protect operator and others from injury from machine parts and workpieces (in the machine or ejected).

Primary objective - Design out risk, e.g., slow closing speeds, slip clutches, … If not possible then effective measures put in place to: 1. Prevent access to dangerous parts (fixed guards, enclosures, sleeving on shafts …); or 2. Stop the movement of dangerous parts before person enters danger zone (photoelectric/light guards).

When not practicable to enclose dangerous parts: - fixed guards where possible supplemented with: - other guards, e.g., trip guards or, if this not practicable, - provision and use of jigs, holders and push sticks, etc. All measures backed up with information, instruction, training and supervision. N.B. “impracticable” in law means impossible.

1. Health and Safety in Engineering Workshops (HSG 129) 2. Safe use of work equipment Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Approved Code of Practice and guidance 2.