Employer’s Guide for Machinery Safety What must you do to ensure machine safety and the safety of your workforce? Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires that equipment provided for use at work is: • Suitable for the intended use • Meets the Essential Requirements for Health and Safety as set out in the Supply of New Machinery Regulations. • 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 guarding, 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
Firstly, prior to utilising new equipment, you should do the following: • Check the machine is complete, including safeguards, and CE marked or UKCA marked if made post-Brexit. • Produce a safe system of work for using and maintaining the equipment and ensure users are aware of this • Check the machine is installed correctly
Machinery maintenance and the operation of safeguards are vital. To prevent access to dangerous parts you may need to adopt a combination of measures, including: • Using solid, fixed guards to enclose the most dangerous parts of the machine • Ensuring the machine cannot start before guards are in place • Providing Alternative measures if convention guards aren’t practical, such as jigs, holders, push sticks • Control risks with supervision, training, and appropriate safety equipment
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