Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 © Crown Copyright 1999 Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland printed from this website are printed under the superintendence and authority of the Controller of HMSO being the Government Printer for Northern Ireland. The legislation contained on this web site is subject to Crown Copyright protection. It may be reproduced free of charge provided that it is reproduced accurately and that the source and copyright status of the material is made evident to users. It should be noted that the right to reproduce the text of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland does not extend to the Government Printer for Northern Ireland imprints which should be removed from any copies of the Statutory Rule which are issued or made available to the public. This includes reproduction of the Statutory Rule on the Internet and on intranet sites. The Royal Arms may be reproduced only where they are an integral part of the original document. The text of this Internet version of the Statutory Rule which is published by the Government Printer for Northern Ireland has been prepared to reflect the text as it was Made. A print version is also available and is published by The Stationery Office Limited as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 , ISBN 0 33 793554 8. The print version may be purchased by clicking here. Braille copies of this Statutory Rule can also be purchased at the same price as the print edition by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 5522 or e-mail:customer.services@tso.co.uk. Further information about the publication of legislation on this website can be found by referring to the Frequently Asked Questions. To ensure fast access over slow connections, large documents have been segmented into "chunks". Where you see a "continue" button at the bottom of the page of text, this indicates that there is another chunk of text available.
The Department of Economic Development, being the Department concerned[1], in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 17(1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6)[2], 45 and 55(2) of, and paragraphs 1(1), (2) and (3), 8, 12(1), 13, 14(1) and 15 of Schedule 3 to, the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978[3] and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, after consultation in accordance with Article 46(1)[4] of that Order with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and such other bodies as appeared to the Department to be appropriate, hereby makes the following Regulations: Citation and commencement 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 20th September 1999. Interpretation 2. - (1) In these Regulations -
(b) where it is appropriate to carry out testing for the purpose, includes testing the nature and extent of which are appropriate for the purpose;
(b) includes testing the nature and extent of which are appropriate for the purpose described in the paragraph;
(2) Any reference in regulations 32 to 34 or Schedule 4 to a guard or protection device is a reference to a guard or protection device provided for the tools of a power press.
(b) subject to paragraph (5), to a person who has control to any extent, of -
(ii) a person at work who uses or supervises or manages the use of work equipment; or (iii) the way in which work equipment is used at work,
and to the extent of his control.
(4) Any reference in paragraph (3)(b) to a person having control is a reference to a person having control in connection with the carrying on by him of a trade, business or other undertaking (whether for profit or not).
(b) the construction, reconstruction, finishing, refitting, repair, maintenance, cleaning or breaking up of the ship.
(11) In this regulation -
(b) where persons other than the master and crew are liable to be exposed to a risk to their health or safety from its use.
Suitability of work equipment 4. - (1) Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided. (2) In selecting work equipment, every employer shall have regard to the working conditions and to the risks to the health and safety of persons which exist in the premises or undertaking in which that work equipment is to be used and any additional risk posed by the use of that work equipment. (3) Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is used only for operations for which, and under conditions for which, it is suitable. (4) In this regulation "suitable" means suitable in any respect which it is reasonably foreseeable will affect the health or safety of any person. Maintenance 5. - (1) Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. (2) Every employer shall ensure that where any machinery has a maintenance log, the log is kept up to date. Inspection 6. - (1) Every employer shall ensure that, where the safety of work equipment depends on the installation conditions, it is inspected -
(b) after assembly at a new site or in a new location,
to ensure that it has been installed correctly and is safe to operate.
(b) each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardise the safety of work equipment have occurred,
to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time.
(b) if obtained from the undertaking of another person, is used in his undertaking,
unless it is accompanied by physical evidence that the last inspection required to be carried out under this regulation has been carried out.
(b) a guard or protection device for the tools of such power press; (c) work equipment for lifting loads including persons; (d) winding apparatus to which -
(ii) the Coal and Other Mines (Shafts, Outlets and Roads) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1970[9] or (iii) the Mines (Emergency Egress) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975[10] apply;
(e) work equipment required to be inspected by regulation 28 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996[11].
Specific risks
(b) repairs, modifications, maintenance or servicing of that work equipment is restricted to those persons who have been specifically designated to perform operations of that description (whether or not also authorised to perform other operations).
(2) The employer shall ensure that the persons designated for the purposes of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) have received adequate training related to any operations in respect of which they have been so designated.
(b) foreseeable abnormal situations and the action to be taken if such a situation were to occur; and (c) any conclusions to be drawn from experience in using the work equipment.
(4) Information and instructions required by this regulation shall be readily comprehensible to those concerned.
(b) to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.
(2) The measures required by paragraph (1) shall consist of -
(b) the provision of other guards or protection devices where and to the extent that it is practicable to do so, but where or to the extent that it is not, then (c) the provision of jigs, holders, push-sticks or similar protection appliances used in conjunction with the machinery where and to the extent that it is practicable to do so, but where or to the extent that it is not, then (d) the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision.
(3) All guards and protection devices provided under sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) shall -
(b) be of good construction, sound material and adequate strength; (c) be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair; (d) not give rise to any increased risk to health or safety; (e) not be easily by-passed or disabled; (f) be situated at sufficient distance from the danger zone; (g) not unduly restrict the view of the operating cycle of the machinery, where such a view is necessary; (h) be so constructed or adapted that they allow operations necessary to fit or replace parts and for maintenance work, restricting access so that it is allowed only to the area where the work is to be carried out and, if possible, without having to dismantle the guard or protection device.
(4) All protection appliances provided under sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (2) shall comply with sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) and (g) of paragraph (3).
Protection against specified hazards
(b) include, where appropriate, measures to minimise the effects of the hazard as well as to reduce the likelihood of the hazard occurring.
(3) The hazards referred to in paragraph (1) are -
(b) rupture or disintegration of parts of work equipment; (c) work equipment catching fire or overheating; (d) the unintended or premature discharge of any article or of any gas, dust, liquid, vapour or other substance which, in each case, is produced, used or stored in the work equipment; (e) the unintended or premature explosion of the work equipment or any article or substance produced, used or stored in it.
(4) For the purposes of this regulation "adequately" means adequately having regard only to the nature of the hazard and the nature and degree of exposure to the risk.
(b) the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988[13]; (c) the Noise at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990[14]; (d) the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990[15]; (e) the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995[16]; (f) the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998[17].
High or very low temperature
(b) controlling any change in the speed, pressure or other operating conditions of the work equipment where such conditions after the change result in risk to health and safety which is greater than or of a different nature from such risks before the change.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), every employer shall ensure that, where a control is required by paragraph (1), it shall not be possible to perform any operation mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of that paragraph except by a deliberate action on such control.
(b) that, so far as is reasonably practicable, systems of work are effective to ensure that, when work equipment is about to start, no person is in a place where he would be exposed to a risk to his health or safety as a result of the work equipment starting, but where neither of these is reasonably practicable, then (c) that an audible, visible or other suitable warning is given by virtue of regulation 24 whenever work equipment is about to start.
(4) Every employer shall take appropriate measures to ensure that any person who is in a place where he would be exposed to a risk to his health or safety as a result of the starting or stopping of work equipment has sufficient time and suitable means to avoid that risk.
(b) are chosen making due allowance for the failures, faults and constraints to be expected in the planned circumstances of use.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), a control system shall not be safe unless -
(b) it ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any fault in or damage to any part of the control system or the loss of supply of any source of energy used by the work equipment cannot result in additional or increased risk to health or safety; and (c) it does not impede the operation of any control required by regulation 15 or 16.
Isolation from sources of energy
(b) appropriate measures can be taken for the protection of any person carrying out maintenance operations which involve a risk to his health or safety.
Markings Employees carried on mobile work equipment 25. Every employer shall ensure that no employee is carried by mobile work equipment unless -
(b) it incorporates features for reducing to as low as is reasonably practicable risks to their safety, including risks from wheels or tracks.
Rolling over of mobile work equipment
(b) a structure which ensures that the work equipment does no more than fall on its side; (c) a structure giving sufficient clearance to anyone being carried if it overturns further than that; or (d) a device giving comparable protection.
(2) Where there is a risk of anyone being carried by mobile work equipment being crushed by its rolling over, the employer shall ensure that it has a suitable restraining system for him.
(b) it would not be reasonably practicable to operate the mobile work equipment in consequence; or (c) in relation to an item of work equipment provided for use in the undertaking or establishment before 20th September 1999 it would not be reasonably practicable.
Overturning of fork-lift trucks
(b) it has appropriate facilities for minimising the consequences of a collision where there is more than one item of rail-mounted work equipment in motion at the same time; (c) it has a device for braking and stopping; (d) where safety constraints so require, emergency facilities operated by readily accessible controls or automatic systems are available for braking and stopping the work equipment in the event of failure of the main facility; (e) where the driver's direct field of vision is inadequate to ensure safety, there are adequate devices for improving his vision so far as is reasonably practicable; (f) if provided for use at night or in dark places -
(ii) is otherwise sufficiently safe for such use;
(g) if it, or anything carried or towed by it, constitutes a fire hazard and is liable to endanger employees, it carries appropriate fire-fighting equipment, unless such equipment is kept sufficiently close to it.
Remote-controlled self-propelled work equipment
(b) where the risk is of crushing or impact, it incorporates features to guard against such risk unless other appropriate devices are able to do so.
Drive shafts
(b) where such seizure cannot be avoided, take every possible measure to avoid an adverse effect on the safety of an employee.
(2) Every employer shall ensure that -
(b) the shaft could become soiled or damaged by contact with the ground while uncoupled,
the work equipment has a system for safeguarding the shaft. Power presses to which Part IV does not apply 31. Regulations 32 to 35 shall not apply to a power press of a kind which is described in Schedule 3. Thorough examination of power presses, guards and protection devices 32. - (1) Every employer shall ensure that a power press is not put into service for the first time after installation, or after assembly at a new site or in a new location unless -
(ii) would be safe to operate; and
(b) any defect has been remedied.
(2) Every employer shall ensure that a guard, other than one to which paragraph (3) relates, or protection device is not put into service for the first time on a power press unless -
(b) any defect has been remedied.
(3) Every employer shall ensure that a part of a closed tool which acts as a fixed guard is not used on a power press unless -
(b) any defect has been remedied.
(4) For the purpose of ensuring that health and safety conditions are maintained, and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time, every employer shall ensure that -
(ii) at least every 6 months, in other cases; and (iii) each time that exceptional circumstances have occurred which are liable to jeopardise the safety of the power press or its guards or protection devices; and
(b) any defect is remedied before the power press is used again.
(5) Where a power press, guard or protection device was, before the coming into operation of these Regulations required to be thoroughly examined by regulation 5(2) of the Power Presses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1966[18], the first thorough examination under paragraph (4) shall be made before the date by which a thorough examination would have been required by regulation 5(2) had it remained in operation.
(ii) undergoing training for that purpose and acting under the immediate supervision of a competent person,
and who has signed a certificate which complies with paragraph (3); or
(2) Every employer shall ensure that a power press is not used after the expiration of the fourth hour of a working period unless its every guard and protection device has been inspected and tested while in position on the power press by a person appointed in writing by the employer who is -
(b) undergoing training for that purpose and acting under the immediate supervision of a competent person,
and who has signed a certificate which complies with paragraph (3).
(b) state the date and time of the inspection and test; and (c) state that every guard and protection device on the power press is in position and effective for its purpose.
(4) In this regulation "working period", in relation to a power press, means -
(b) in premises where a shift system is in operation, a shift.
Reports
(b) as soon as is practicable make a report of the thorough examination to the employer in writing authenticated by him or on his behalf by signature or equally secure means and containing the information specified in Schedule 4; and (c) where there is in his opinion a defect in a power press or its guard or protection device which is or could become a danger to persons, send a copy of the report as soon as is practicable to the enforcing authority for the premises in which the power press is situated.
(2) A person making an inspection and test for an employer under regulation 33 shall forthwith notify the employer of any defect in a guard or protection device which in his opinion is or could become a danger to persons and the reason for his opinion.
(b) after that, until 6 months have passed since it was signed.
Exemption for the armed forces 36. - (1) The Secretary of State for Defence may, in the interests of national security, by a certificate in writing exempt any of the home forces, any visiting force or any headquarters from any requirement or prohibition imposed by these Regulations and any such exemption may be granted subject to conditions and to a limit of time and may be revoked by the said Secretary of State by a certificate in writing at any time. (2) In this regulation -
(b) "headquarters" has the same meaning as in Article 3(2) of the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1965[20]; (c) "visiting force" has the same meaning as it does for the purposes of any provision of Part I of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.
Transitional provision
Interpretation 1. - (1) In this Schedule -
(2) For the purposes of this Schedule, any structures and devices on top of a well shall be treated as forming part of the well.
(b) he has normal inert gas partial pressure in his tissues; and (c) if he entered the water, he has left it,
and diving operations include the activity of any person in connection with the health and safety of a person who is, or is deemed to be, engaged in diving operations.
(b) any activity on or from a vessel being used as a stand-by vessel.
(3) Diving operations involving the survey and preparation of the sea bed for an offshore installation.
(b) for the storage of gas in or under the shore or bed of any water or the recovery of gas so stored; (c) for the conveyance of things by means of a pipe; or (d) mainly for the provision of accommodation for persons who work on or from a structure falling within any of the provisions of this sub-paragraph,
and which is not an excepted structure.
(b) a well; (c) a structure which has ceased to be used for any of the purposes specified in sub-paragraph (4) and has since been used for a purpose not so specified; (d) a mobile structure which has been taken out of use and is not for the time being intended to be used for any of the purposes specified in sub-paragraph (4); and (e) any part of a pipeline.
Wells
(b) an activity which is immediately preparatory to any activity in head (a).
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) includes keeping a vessel on station for the purpose of working on a well but otherwise does not include navigation or an activity connected with navigation.
(b) the loading, unloading, fuelling, repair and maintenance of an aircraft on a vessel,
being in either case a vessel which is engaged in pipeline works.
(b) any apparatus for treating or cooling any thing which is to flow through, or through part of, the pipe or system; (c) valves, valve chambers and similar works which are annexed to, or incorporated in the course of, the pipe or system; (d) apparatus for supplying energy for the operation of any such apparatus or works as are mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c); (e) apparatus for the transmission of information for the operation of the pipe or system; (f) apparatus for the cathodic protection of the pipe or system; and (g) a structure used or to be used solely for the support of a part of the pipe or system; but not including a pipeline of which no initial or terminal point is situated in the United Kingdom or within territorial waters, United Kingdom territorial waters adjacent to Great Britain or a designated area;
(b) inspecting, testing, maintaining, adjusting, repairing, altering or renewing a pipeline or length of pipeline; (c) changing the position of or dismantling or removing a pipeline or length of pipeline; (d) opening the bed of the sea for the purposes of the works mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c), and tunnelling or boring for those purposes; (e) any activities incidental to the activities described in paragraphs (a) to (d); (f) diving operations in connection with any of the works mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) or for the purpose of determining whether a place is suitable as part of the site of a proposed pipeline and the carrying out of surveying operations for settling the route of a proposed pipeline.
Mines
(b) the loading, unloading, fuelling or provisioning of a vessel; (c) diving operations; (d) the construction, reconstruction, finishing, refitting, repair, maintenance, cleaning or breaking up of a vessel except when carried out by the master or any officer or member of the crew of that vessel; and (e) the maintaining on station of a vessel which would be an offshore installation were it not a structure to which paragraph 2(5)(d) relates.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to vessels which are registered outside the United Kingdom and are on passage through territorial waters.
1. A power press for the working of hot metal. 2. A power press not capable of a stroke greater than 6 millimetres. 3. A guillotine. 4. A combination punching and shearing machine, turret punch press or similar machine for punching, shearing or cropping. 5. A machine, other than a press brake, used for bending steel sections. 6. A straightening machine. 7. An upsetting machine. 8. A heading machine. 9. A rivetting machine. 10. An eyeletting machine. 11. A press-stud attaching machine. 12. A zip fastener bottom stop attaching machine. 13. A stapling machine. 14. A wire stitching machine. 15. A power press for the compacting of metal powders. 1. The name of the employer for whom the thorough examination was made. 2. The address of the premises at which the thorough examination was made. 3. In relation to each item examined -
(b) where known its make, type and year of manufacture; (c) the identifying mark of -
(ii) the employer.
4.
In relation to the first thorough examination of a power press after installation or after assembly at a new site or in a new location -
(b) either that it has been installed correctly and would be safe to operate or the respects in which it has not been installed correctly or would not be safe to operate; (c) identification of any part found to have a defect, and a description of the defect.
5.
In relation to a thorough examination of a power press other than one to which paragraph 4 relates -
(b) either that the power press would be safe to operate or the respects in which it would not be safe to operate; (c) identification of any part found to have a defect which is or could become a danger to persons, and a description of the defect.
6.
In relation to a thorough examination of a guard or protection device -
(b) identification of any part found to have a defect which is or could become a danger to persons, and a description of the defect.
7.
Any repair, renewal or alteration required to remedy a defect found to be a danger to persons.
(b) any repair, renewal or alteration required to remedy it.
9.
Any other defect which requires remedy.
(This note is not part of the Regulations.) 1. These Regulations impose health and safety requirements with respect to the provision and use of work equipment, which is defined in regulation 2(1). 2. The Regulations revoke and re-enact the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (S.R. 1993 No. 19) ("the 1993 Regulations"), which gave effect as respects Northern Ireland, except in relation to certain matters, to Council Directive 89/655/EEC (O.J. No. L393, 30.12.89, p. 13) on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work ("the Directive"). 3. In addition to minor and drafting changes these Regulations contain new provision giving effect as respects Northern Ireland to the provisions of the Directive identified below and inserted in it by the amending Council Directive 95/63/EC (O.J. No. L335, 30.12.95, p. 28). 4. Save in the case of regulation 34 (reports) these Regulations, as the 1993 Regulations, place duties on employers. They also place those duties (not required by the Directive) on others, who now include (regulation 3(3) to (5)) certain persons having control of work equipment, of persons at work who use or supervise or manage its use or of the way it is used, to the extent of their control. 5. These Regulations, as the 1993 Regulations, have limited application to ships. The way in which they so apply is revised (regulation 3(6) to (11)). 6. The Regulations specify the premises and activities within United Kingdom territorial waters adjacent to Northern Ireland to which the Regulations apply (regulation 3(1) and (10) and Schedule 1). 7. The Regulations (giving effect to the replaced last paragraph of point 2.1 of Annex I to the Directive) require that control systems of work equipment are chosen making due allowance for the failures, faults and constraints to be expected in the planned circumstances of use (regulation 18(1)(b)). 8. The Regulations, in giving effect to Article 4a of the Directive, require -
(b) the recording and keeping of the result (regulation 6(3)); and (c) that evidence of the last inspection accompany work equipment used outside the undertaking (regulation 6(4)). Work equipment subject to equivalent provision is excepted (regulation 6(5)). "Inspection" is defined in regulation 2(1).
9.
The Regulations give effect to point 3.1 of Annex I to the Directive in making provision in relation to mobile work equipment for -
(b) means to minimise the risk to safety from its rolling over (regulation 26); (c) means to reduce the risk to safety from the rolling over of a fork-lift truck (regulation 27); (d) the safety of self-propelled work equipment (regulation 28) and remote-controlled self-propelled work equipment (regulation 29); and (e) the drive shafts of mobile work equipment (regulation 30),
and give relief until 5th December 2002 for existing mobile work equipment (regulation 37).
(b) their inspection after setting, re-setting or adjustment of their tools, and every working period (regulation 33); and (c) the making (regulation 34 and Schedule 4) and keeping (regulation 35) of reports.
11.
The Regulations repeal section 19 of the Office and Shop Premises Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (1966 c. 26 (N.I.)) (regulation 38) and revoke certain statutory provisions (regulation 39 and Schedule 5). Notes: [1] See Article 2(2) of S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9)back [2] Article 17 must be read with S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), Articles 3(2) and 4(2)back [3] S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9); the general purposes of Part II referred to in Article 17(1) were extended by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), Article 3(1). Article 47A was inserted by Article 3, and Article 2 was amended by Articles 4 and 8, of S.I. 1997/1774 (N.I. 16)back [4] Article 46(1) was amended by S.I. 1998/2795 (N.I. 18), Article 6(1) and Schedule 1, paragraphs 8 and 18back [6] S.I. 1988/1636, amended by S.I. 1988/2274back [7] S.I. 1988/1639, amended by S.I. 1988/2274back [8] S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1970 No. 104 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulationsback [9] S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1970 No. 132 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulationsback [10] S.R. 1975 No. 35 as amended by S.R. 1998 No. 375back [11] S.R. 1996 No. 510 as amended by S.R. 1999 No. 150back [12] S.R. 1985 No. 273, amended by S.R. 1993 No. 20 and S.R. 1999 No. 150back [13] S.R. 1988 No. 74, amended by S.R. 1993 No. 20, S.R. 1993 No. 26 and S.R. 1999 No. 150back [14] S.R. 1990 No. 147, amended by S.R. 1993 No. 20 and S.R. 1999 No. 150back [15] S.R. 1990 No. 424, amended by S.R. 1993 No. 20 and S.R. 1999 No. 150back [16] S.R. 1995 No. 51, amended by S.R. 1995 No. 60 and S.R. 1999 No. 150back [17] S.R. 1998 No. 281, amended by S.R. 1999 No. 150back [18] S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1966 No. 311 as amended by S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1973 No. 204back [20] S.I. 1965/1536, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulationsback [22] 1964 c. 29; section 1 was amended by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23), Schedule 3, paragraph 1back
ISBN 0 337 93554 8
|
|
| ||
| We welcome your comments on this site | © Crown copyright 1999 | Prepared 28 July 1999 |