Call Today to Discuss Your Business Needs 01223 893998
Menu
Menu
Hi all and best wishes for the new decade. Please make use of this document (print out and add to the safety notice board) as part of our communication to workforces and others that may be affected by our business activities. Please note PRR Safety change of business address in the footer below.
To comply with the PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment) Regulations all plant and machinery
(where significant risk of injury exists) must be inspected for safety; prior to use, and whilst in service by
competent persons (this can be a shift manager/supervisor with the relevant experience). These inspections must be recorded and be at suitable intervals dependant on frequency and type of use. User checks of
guarding, interlocks for example should also be carried out by the operators at the start of shift, user
checks do not need to be recorded to comply with the law although I would advise it is good practice.
On 5 September 2018, two employees of Sulzer Electro Mechanical Services (UK) were standing on the
chuck of a large vertical boring machine at a site in Bordesley, Birmingham, to set it. The start button was
inadvertently pressed and, despite the interlocked perimeter fencing access doors being open, the chuck
started to rotate.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigators revealed that the interlocks on the perimeter fencing access
doors were not working, and there were no safety checks in place to ensure that the interlocks were in
working order.
“We hope that as a result of this case, industry will better understand the importance of maintaining effective control measures,” said HSE inspector Christopher Maher after the hearing.
“It is important that guarding arrangements, including interlocks, are checked regularly, to ensure that
they are in good repair and efficient working order.”
Remember we can supply online basic training for all health and safety content; please get in touch with
your requirements; our contract clients also where required have access to our training database which
stores all employee training and reminds us as retraining becomes due.
