Engineering inspection frequencies - Plastics

Manufacturing: Plastics

A guide to inspection frequencies

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 plastic production industries are listed below, together with the applicable legislation.

UK

Lifting

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998	Blocks (manual/powered)	12
	Jib crane (manual/powered)	12
	Fork-lift truck	12
	Fork-lift truck: lifting attachments	12
	Scissor lift	6/12
	Platform lift	6
	Trolley	12
	Miscellaneous lifting accessories (lifting tackle)	6
	Mobile elevating working platform (MEWP)	6
	Overhead travelling crane	12
	Lifting beam (and frame/lifting attachments)	12
	Jack (e.g. bottle/trolley/transmission jack)	12
	Vacuum lifter	6
	Axle stand/support	12
	General lifting support equipment (e.g. runway track)	12
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998	Pallet truck	12
	Racking	12

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.

Boiler/Pressure

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)
Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000	Steam boiler	14
	Steam vessels	14/26
	Other pressure vessels	13-120
	Refrigeration system (>25kW)	60
	Air receiver (>250 bar/litres)	26
	Air/oil receiver	72
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998	Compressed air vessel	12
	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.

Power Presses

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998	Hydraulic power press	6/12
	Mechanical power press	6/12
	Mechanical press brake	6/12
	Process machinery with guards (e.g. guillotine, injection moulding machine, etc.)	6/12

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.

Electrical/Mechanical Plant

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998	Hot water boiler (<100ºC) (2)	12
	Process machinery	12
	General mechanical and electrical plant (e.g. motors, pumps, etc.)	12

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) PUWER is applicable if the the item is used by employees at a place of work.

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)	Dust extraction	14
	Fume extraction	14

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.

Electrical Systems

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR)	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 the Electricity at Work Regululations 1989 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.

Ireland

Lifting

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	Blocks (manual/powered)	12
	Jib crane (manual/powered)	12
	Fork-lift truck	12
	Fork-lift truck: lifting attachments	12
	Scissor lift	6
	Platform lift	6
	Trolley	12
	Miscellaneous lifting accessories (lifting tackle)	6
	Mobile elevating working platform (MEWP)	6
	Overhead travelling crane	12
	Lifting beam (and frame/lifting attachments)	12
	Jack (e.g. bottle/trolley/transmission jack)	12
	Vacuum lifter	6
	Axle stand/support	12
	General lifting support equipment (e.g. runway track)	12
S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Regulation 30): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007	Pallet truck	12

Boiler/Pressure

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	Steam boiler	14
	Steam vessels	14/26
	Other pressure vessels	13/120
	Refrigeration system (>25kW)	60
	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	Compressed air vessel	12
	Hot water boiler (<110ºC)	12
	Expansion vessel (used for hot water systems)	12
	Refrigeration and air conditioning systems (<25 kW)	12

Power Presses

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	Hydraulic power press	6/12
	Mechanical power press	6/12
	Mechanical press brake	6/12
	Process machinery with guards (e.g. guillotine, injection moulding machine, etc.)	6/12

Electrical/Mechanical Plant

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	Hot water boiler (<100ºC)	12
	Process machinery	12
	Racking	12
	General mechanical and electrical plant (e.g. motors, pumps, etc.)	12

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Applicable legislation	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (1)
Health & Safety Authority: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Guidance document	Dust extraction	12
	Fume extraction	12

(1) Unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer.

Electrical Systems

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

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