PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT

REGULATION 1998
(PUWER)

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

The original regulations came out in 1992 as part of the European

Directives but were not specific regarding lifting equipment at that
stage. As such the legislation was left in place until the amending
regulations were published and implemented under the 1998
December remit. The revised regulations are far more encompassing in
their descriptions and makes general requirements that apply to all
equipment.

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WORK EQUIPMENT

Means any machines, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use

at work.

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SUITABILITY

It is the duty of the employer to ensure that work equipment is so

constructed or adapted to be suitable for the purpose for which it is to
be used. In this context suitable means in any respect which it is
reasonably foreseeable that will affect the health or safety of any
person.

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MAINTENANCE

The equipment issued must be maintained in an efficient manner, be in

good working order and free from repair.

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INSPECTION

The employer has a duty to ensure that where the safety of work
equipment depends on the installation conditions that it is:
Inspected after installation but before being put into service for the
first time
After assembly at a new location
Where the safety of the work equipment may be jeopardised
At suitable intervals that will ensure the equipment is not exposed
to conditions that will cause it to deteriorate

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INFORMATION

It is the employers duty to ensure adequate information and/or

instructions pertaining to using the equipment in a safe manner is
supplied.

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TRAINING

Employers must ensure that personnel who are issued with work
equipment have received adequate training and are aware of the risks
involved when using it.

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CONFORMITY

All work equipment issued for use within the UK must be designed and
constructed to comply with the essential requirements of the EC community
directives. In essence equipment must be:
Designed to comply with the relevant British, EU or International standards
where applicable (Supply of Machinery Regulations 1992 & Amendments
1994)
Appropriately identified with the CE mark
Be suitably guarded (where appropriate)
Have suitable control functionality including Emergency Stop(s) (where
applicable)
Be suitably marked with the rating and SWL details
Be issued with the relevant documentation i.e. Declaration of Conformity

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