Agriculture

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.

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.

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 the agricultural industry 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	Vehicle lifts (all types)	6
	Telehandler/Mobile hydraulic handler	12
	Tractor with front end loader	12
	Loading shovel with back actor	12
	Forklift truck (powered)	12
	Excavator (with lifting duties)	12
	Mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)	6
	Trolley	12
	Blocks (manual/powered)	12
	Lifting beam (and frame/lifting attachments)	12
	Jack (e.g. bottle/trolley/transmission jack)	12
	Miscellaneous lifting accessories (lifting tackle)	6

(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	Air receiver (>250 bar/litres)	26
	Air/oil receiver	72
	Steam boiler	14

(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.

Electrical/Mechanical Plant

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment 1998	General mechanical and electrical plant (e.g. motors, pumps)	12
	Safety equipment items	6-12
	Racking	12
	Axle stand/support	12
	Pallet truck	12
	Pressure washer	12

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

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002	Fume extraction	14
	Dust extraction (metallic)	6/14 (2)
	Dust extraction (non-metallic)	14

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) 6-month frequency if used for more than 12 hours per week. Otherwise, a 14-month frequency.

Electrical Systems

Applicable legislation (1)	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989	Low voltage electrical installations	36
	Fixed wiring installations: dairy farms	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 Regulations 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	Vehicle lifts (all types)	12
	Telehandler/Mobile hydraulic handler	12
	Tractor with front end loader	12
	Loading shovel with back actor	12
	Forklift truck (powered)	12
	Excavator (with lifting duties)	12
	Mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)	6
	Trolley	12
	Blocks (manual/powered)	12
	Lifting beam (and frame/lifting attachments)	12
	Jack (e.g. bottle/trolley/transmission jack)	12
	Miscellaneous lifting accessories (lifting tackle)	6

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	Air receiver (>250 bar/litres)	26
	Air/oil receiver	72
	Steam boiler	14

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	General mechanical and electrical plant (e.g. motors, pumps)	12
	Safety equipment items	6/12
	Racking	12
	Axle stand/support	12
	Pallet truck	12
	Pressure washer	12

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Applicable legislation	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (1)
Health & Safety Authority: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Guidance document	Fume extraction	12
	Dust extraction (metallic)	12
	Dust extraction (non-metallic)	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 (1)
	Fixed wiring installations: dairy farms	36 (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.

HSB Inspection Services HSB Risk Management Solutions