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Work Equipment PUWER Inspections
Just how safe is your work equipment, when staff are using it?
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In the UK there is a set of regulations called the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (normally abbreviated to PUWER). It applies to anything that is classed as work equipment; tool box tools right up to complete production lines.
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Should anyone within a company get injured, or worse case scenario killed, and the Health & Safety Executive (the industry police) get involved, PUWER is the set of regulations cited as failing against, for the vast majority of instances. It normally an 'easy win' for the authorities, because if someone has been injured, the company is therefore guilty under PUWER.
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As an employer you are legally bound to ensure these regulations are met, and they are there to protect people from injury. The regulations cover a large variety of subjects, including maintenance, training and instructions, control and control systems, even stability.
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There are several times where the regulations call for an assessment to be carried out (e.g. before put into use for the first time after installation, if it is moved or relocated, at regular intervals).
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The regulations also call for the person carrying out these assessments to be competent to do so. Should the assessor only have a limited knowledge, ,or only be competent in certain areas, (perhaps of certain machine safety standards), then the assessment cannot be fully or appropriately completed, leaving the equipment in a potentially unsafe state and operators at risk.
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Perhaps a simple analogy for a PUWER assessment is your car's MOT. This has to be carried out a set intervals, by someone authorised and competent, to show that the car is roadworthy. A PUWER assessment doesn't just look at the machine; it also considers other aspects. Can you prove the equipment has been maintained? Can you show your staff are trained sufficiently? What information is in place? A car's MOT doesn't ask to see your car's service history, or the driver's licence... There is a lot more to a PUWER assessment.
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Abbey Machinery Safety Ltd are highly competent with regards to PUWER assessments, having had considerable experience in carrying them out in a wide range of industries and work equipment. They also have an extensive knowledge of the applicable regulations and standards. By using Abbey to conduct your PUWER assessments, you can be sure to will receive a full, accurate appraisal of each piece of your work equipment.
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