UK and Ireland
Engineering inspection frequencies - Food and Beverage Processors (General)
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Food and Beverage Processors (General)

A guide to inspection frequencies

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    Employers have a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Periodic inspections and/or thorough examinations on their plant and equipment form part of this vital duty, whilst also ensuring employer conformity to applicable health and safety legislation.

    Manufacturers rely on a wide range of equipment and process plant for their day-to-day operations, with various work processes occurring depending on the type of business operation.

    Plant and equipment within the workplace needs to be examined and properly maintained to ensure it is safe to operate, and that it complies with applicable health and safety legislation; requiring statutory examinations at specific intervals, which exist outside normal equipment maintenance and servicing procedures.

    Regular inspections may also serve as a good preventative maintenance programme to ensure the integrity of plant and equipment; helping to minimise machinery breakdowns and production downtime.

    Inspection frequencies

    Different types and categories of equipment have varying inspection frequencies according to applicable health and safety legislation.

    Typical equipment and installations found within food and beverage processing premises are listed below, together with the applicable legislation.

    Applicable legislation (1) Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 Forklift truck (goods only) 12
    Lifting machine attachments (forklift truck attachment) 12
    Swing jib crane 12
    Goods/service lift 12
    Mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) 6
    Order picker (lifting persons/lifting goods) 6/12
    Mobile crane (goods only) 12
    Overhead travelling crane 12
    Runway track 12
    Vehicle tailboard lift 6-12
    Fall protection equipment (harness with lanyard) 6
    Lifting accessories (removable eyebolt) 6
    Lifting assembly (accessories permanently attached to lifting equipment) 12
    Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Pallet truck 12
    Conveyor system 12
    (1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.
    Applicable legislation (1) Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)
    Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000 Air receiver (>250 bar/litres) 26
    Air/oil receiver 72
    Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Hot water boiler (<110ºC) (3) 12
    Expansion vessel (used for hot water systems) (3) 12
    Refrigeration and air conditioning systems (<25 kW) (3) 12
    (1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) Examination intervals for statutory pressure systems are dictated by a Written Scheme of Examination; a legal document that details the items within the pressure system, including protective devices, and outlines the inspection frequency and requirements. (3) PUWER is applicable if the the item is used by employees at a place of work.
    Applicable legislation (1) Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Alternator 12
    (1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.
    Applicable legislation (1) Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 Fume extraction 14
    Dust extraction (non-metallic) 14
    (1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.
    Applicable legislation (1) Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)
    Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Low voltage electrical installations 36
    Portable appliances 12
    (1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) The frequency of period inspection for electrical systems, installations and equipment covered by EAWR is dependent on the type and use of the installation, the quality and frequency of maintenance and any external influences which the installation may be subject to.
    Applicable legislation Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    S.I. No. 299 of 2007: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Forklift truck (goods only) 12
    Lifting machine attachments (forklift truck attachment) 12
    Swing jib crane 12
    Goods/service lift 6
    Mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) 6
    Order picker (lifting persons/lifting goods) 6/12
    Mobile crane (goods only) 12
    Overhead travelling crane 12
    Runway track 12
    Vehicle tailboard lift 12
    Fall protection equipment (harness with lanyard) 6
    Lifting accessories (removable eyebolt) 6
    Lifting assembly (accessories permanently attached to lifting equipment) 12
    S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Regulation 30): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Pallet truck 12
    Conveyor system 12
    Applicable legislation Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    S.I. No. 445 of 2012: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 Air receiver (>250 bar/litres) 26
    Air/oil receiver 72
    S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Regulation 30): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Hot water boiler (<110ºC) 12
    Expansion vessel (used for hot water systems) 12
    Refrigeration and air conditioning systems (<25 kW) 12
    Applicable legislation Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Regulation 30): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Alternator 12
    Applicable legislation Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (1)
    Health & Safety Authority: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Guidance document Fume extraction 12
    Dust extraction (non-metallic) 12
    (1) Unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer.
    Applicable legislation Typical equipment Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
    S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Part 3): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Low voltage electrical installations 36 - Industrial (1)
    60 - Commercial (1)
    Portable appliances 3-60 (2)
    (1) Unless specified otherwise by a risk assessment/the manufacturer. (2) A general guide, unless specified otherwise by a risk assessment/the manufacturer.

    How HSB can help

    HSB Inspection Services: Our network of competent, multi-skilled Engineer Surveyors help customers throughout the UK and Ireland to maintain workplace equipment safety, optimise the efficiency of plant and equipment, and comply with applicable health and safety legislation; covering boiler/pressure, lifting, electrical/mechanical, dust and fume extraction, power press equipment, and fixed wiring installations.

    HSB Risk Management Solutions:  We can help businesses to reduce risks, costs, and deliver compliance via improved analysis of their equipment and health and safety practices. Consisting of three services, each service is further split into modules, allowing customers to build them to fit their business.

    Plant guide: Diagrams

    View detailed diagrams of typical plant and equipment used across various industries, together with applicable legislation for each item.

    > View Guide