Safe use of work equipment

The current legislation that lays down requirements for the use of any equipment at work is the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). These Regulations take over the greater part of the requirements contained in the now largely defunct Factories Act 1961 (FA) but extend to include every item of plant, equipment or tool used at work. However, the 

PUWER applies to the safeguarding and safe use of all equipment, machinery and plant used in any work place. However, where machinery is concerned, any that was purchased after 31 December 1992 should comply vsnth the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SMSR) (see Section 13.1) 

PUWER cover anything provided for use at work, from a scalpel to scaffolding, a ruler to a reactor. Their requirements are summarized below  

The obligations apply whether the organization is run for profit or not. They do not apply to sea-going ships but do apply to offshore gas and oil installations. 

Lays down a hierarchy of protective techniques in priority order  

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L 22 Safe use of work equipment. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved Code... 

Employment, social affairs and education - dealing with safety in the workplace and the safe use of work equipment. 

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992- cover the provision of safe work equipment and its safe use. The term work equipment includes chemical reactor systems. The regulations include the requirement to prevent exposure of persons to specified hazards, including the unintended or premature explosion of the work equipment. 

This chapter covers the scope and main requirements for work equipment as covered by Parts II and III of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). The requirements for the supply of new machinery are aiso inciuded. Summaries of PUWER and The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations are given in Chapter 20. The safe use of hand tools, handheld power tools and the proper safe-guarding of a small range of machinery used in construction work are included. 

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) are made under the HSW Act and their primary aim is to ensure that work equipment is used without risks to health and safety, regardless of its age, condition or origin. The requirements of PUWER that are relevant to woodworking machinery are set out in the Safe use of woodworking machinery Approved Code of Practice. PUWER has specific requirements for risk assessment which are covered under the Health and Safety Management Regulations. 

Health and Safety Executive, Legal Series booklet No. L22, Safe use cf work equipment. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved Code of Practice. HSE Books, Sudbury (1998)... 

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) revokes the Power Press Regulations but contains specific requirements for power presses in part IV of the Regulations. PUWER 98 is supported by the HSC Code of Practice and Guidance Safe use of power presses. ... 

HSWA) in terms of, for instance, basic requirements relating to machinery safety, electrical safety and construction safety. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (WHSWR) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 (PUWER) continue this philosophy. Safe place strategies may be classified as follows ... 

Structural information obtained by the survey should be used to ensure that the intended method of work retains the stability of the parts of the structure or building which have not yet been demolished. The aim should be to adopt methods which make it unnecessary for work to be done at height. If this cannot be achieved then systems which limit the danger of such exposure should be employed. The use of balling machines, heavy duty grabs or pusher arms may avoid the need to work at heights. If these methods are possible, the contractor must be satisfied that sufficient area is available for the safe use of the equipment, and that the equipment is adequate for the job. 

Operatives will be trained in the safe handling, storage and transport of flat glass, and in the safe use of access equipment provided. Supervisors will be trained in safe systems of work applied to glass handling, and in the inspection of access equipment provided. 

Regulation 11 deals v/ith specific hazards associated with the use of work equipment. Mostly, this and the remainder of the Regulations are aimed at the provision of safe equipment, fitted where necessary with safety devices or protected against failure in other cases the requirements affect the use of the equipment. The Regulation sets out requirements to reduce the risk to employees from dangerous parts of machinery. They include measures to prevent access to those dangerous parts and to stop the part s movement before someone (or part of them) enters the danger zone. 

In performing the assay or test procedures in the Codex, safe laboratory practices must be followed. This includes the use of precautionary measures, protective equipment, and work practices consistent with the chemicals and procedures used. Before undertaking any assay or procedures described in this compendium, the individual should be aware of the hazards associated with the chemicals and of the procedures and means of protecting against them. Material Safety Data Sheets, which contain precautionary information related to safety and health concerns, are available from manufacturers and distributors of many chemicals and should provide helpful information about the safe use of such chemicals. 

The hazards associated with inappropriate use of microwave equipment cannot be entirely prevented by interlocking devices and other safeguards. However, the risk can be minimized if the analyst continually inspects the system to ensure that the equipment is maintained in safe working order. If any portion of the microwave unit such as door seal or vessel casing becomes damaged by a serious event such as an acid spill, prolonged wear or impact, the safety of the equipment should be re-assessed before it is returned to service. 

Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX 95) to approximate the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres governs requirements for products intended for the use in explosion risk areas. Directive 1999/92/EC (ATEX 137) on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres regulates the minimum requirements for explosion protection at work places and for the safe use of products. The ATEX 95 therefore deals with the properties of the products to be used in explosion risk areas while ATEX 137 regulates their operation and other operational measures for explosion protection. 

Proper use of laboratory equipment is required to work safely with hazardous chemicals. Maintenance and regular inspection of laboratory equipment are an essential part of this activity. Many of the accidents that occur in the laboratory can be attributed to improper use or maintenance of laboratory equipment. This chapter discusses prudent practices for handling the apparatus often used in laboratories. 

Section 6.C.5.7 provides guidelines for the safe use of microwave ovens in the laboratory. Other devices in the laboratory can also emit harmful microwave or radio-frequency emissions. People working with these types of devices should be trained in their proper operation as well as measures to prevent exposure to harmful emissions. Shields and protective covers should be in proper position when the equipment is operating. Warning signs to protect people wearing heart pacemakers should be posted on or near these devices. 

Whatever the hazard to heaith and safety at work, the empioyer must be able to demonstrate that he or she has carried out a risk analysis, made recommendations which wiii reduce that risk and communicated these recommendations to the workforce. Where there is a need for PPE to protect against personal Injury and to create a safe working environment, the employer must provide that equipment and any necessary training which might be required and the empioyee must make full and proper use of such equipment and training. 

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