13 April 2011
Are you planning to purchase any new or used machinery for your business?
When purchasing new or used machinery you must consider the requirements of:
• ‘Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008’, which details the requirements for the manufacturer of new machinery.
• Requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974, which contains the general duties for the manufacturing and supply of machinery in the workplace, that it is safe.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, which covers a multitude of requirements from suitability, training of staff and guarding of dangerous parts of machinery etc.
Other regulations that may need to be taken into account cover the supply of electrical and gas appliances, which is a mandatory requirement upon suppliers of machinery.
All machinery is required to fully meet the relevant ‘Essential Health and Safety Requirements’, but this can be misleading for the employer purchasing the equipment thinking the machine is safe and well guarded, as it displays the CE mark.
What the CE marking does mean, is that the original manufacturer is claiming that all legal, European Standards and Essential Health and Safety Requirements have been met and satisfied however, this may not be the exact case especially when purchasing refurbished or second hand equipment.
The manufacturer of new equipment must ensure that all health and safety hazards that operators of the equipment are likely to be exposed to are identified and those risks are eliminated however, where that isn’t possible that safeguards are provided. This would include the guarding of dangerous parts of the machinery and that noise enclosures are provided where required. If this was not possible and could not be engineered out, then any residual risks would need to highlighted by suitable warning signage, to warn of risks that cannot be reduced in other ways.
Before purchasing any new, refurbished or second hand equipment you must check for any obvious defects. This is where your PUWER risk assessment should be carried out to identify, that are all of the guards are in place or are any required guarding missing or additional guards required? Also, for example, have any devices such as interlocks and other safety devices been removed? Use your experience with any similar equipment you have in place and look for empty threaded holes upon the equipment, which may indicate where guarding or fixed panels may had been installed at some point in time.
When installed will the wiring be protected by being clipped into place, also, has the wiring which is routed to the main electrical supply protected from damage by vehicle movements, e.g. forklifts, pallet trucks etc. and also ensure that is doesn’t create a trip hazard.
Is a risk present or will a potential risk exist during normal operation from fumes from the process; will inhalable dust be created. Will the noise levels in the workplace rise above the mandatory hearing protection level of at or above 85dB(A) be present.
Does the equipment require local exhaust ventilation (LEV), and if so, have baseline measurements been taken following installation to ensure the hazard has been adequately controlled and importantly has the machines safe operating and maintenance manual been provided in the correct language for the operatives?
This leads us on to training. Ensure that when you purchase new or second hand equipment that the proposed users receive a good level of training in the correct use and cleaning of the equipment and especially awareness of particular hazards of the machine/equipment, their relevant safety devices that offer protection and how they should be checked and maintained, as new machines of today may have complex guard monitoring systems.
Remember, your new equipment should be supplied to you with a completed declaration of conformity certificate and if you have any concerns with the equipment, whether safety features, documentation, training provided, do formally write to the manufacturer or supplier with your concerns and maintain the corresponding records. It can work to your favour!
If you have any questions regarding this article, or need advice on guarding, training or technical issues, please do contact your local BPIF HS&E adviser for the first point of call.
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