Are you complying with UK Law?
Guide to plant and equipment legislation and examinations
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Failure to comply with UK health and safety legislation can have serious consequences for businesses, such as reduction in workforce efficiency, increased risk of accidents and ill health, enforcement by the Health & Safety Executive and heavy fines or even imprisonment
A critical area of health and safety for businesses is the examination of plant and equipment to comply with various legislation
Plant and equipment
| Plant category | Example plant | Legislation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure | - Air receiver (1) - Air conditioning (2) - Steam boiler - Blowdown tank - Hot water boiler (pressurised) - LPG storage/liquified natural gas vessels | - Autoclave - Boiling pans (steam) - Canteen boiler (steam) - Steam receiver - Refrigeration plant (2) - Safety valves/pressure control valves | PSSR |
| - Storage of hazardous fluids | COMAH | ||
| Lifting | - Crane (e.g. portal, pedestal, overhead, tower, mobile, jib, swing jib) - Portable crane (e.g. engine) - Runway track - Suspended access equipment - Chain block (powered or manual) - Winch (powered or manual) - Fork lift truck (e.g. sideloader, reach, rough terrain) - Escalator - Lifting accessories (e.g. slings, eyebolts, shackles, chains) - Mobile elevating working platform - Rescue harness | - Rope blocks - Sheer legs - Stairlift - Trolley/carriage - Work handler - Wheelchair lift - Straddle carrier - Vehicle tailboard lift - Telehandler - Mobile gantries - Passenger/goods lifts - Builders‘ hoist - Man basket | PUWER |
| Electrical systems | - Diesel engine and alternator - Power transformer - Electric motor pump - Compressor - Water turbine/generator | - Fan - Gas engine - Oil/coal/gas burner unit - Rectifier | EAWR & DSEAR |
| Power presses and associated machinery | - Friction screw press - Guillotine (electric/hydraulic) - Pneumatic press (fixed or moveable guards) - Plastic injection moulding machine - Machines incorporating photo electric guarding | - Hydraulic power press/press brake (fixed/moveable/interlocking guards) - Mechanical power press/press brake (fixed/moveable/light/interlocking guards) - Servo press (fixed/moveable/interlocking/photo electric guards) | PUWER |
| Local exhaust ventilation | - Dust extraction (e.g. wood, metal, blasting of castings, etc) - Fume extraction (e.g. paint, gases, etc) | COSHH & CLAW |
Legislation
- PSSR: The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
- LOLER: The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
- EAWR: The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- PUWER: The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- COSHH: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
- COMAH: The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015
- DSEAR: The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
- CLAW: The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable, however, the year of implementation of the regulation is normally different.
(1) Legislation applicable if receiver is connected to a system containing a vessel greater than 250 bar/litres. (2) Legislation applicable if plant exceeds 25kW with a vessel over 250 bar/litres.Legislative examination requirements
| Plant category | Example plant | Legislation | Legislative requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure systems | - Steam boilers, vessels and systems - Air receivers and other gas systems (over 0.5 bar pressure or 250 bar/litres capacity) - High pressure hot water systems (over 110ºC) - Refrigeration systems/air conditioning plant with compressors over 25kW (combined input power) and a vessel over 250 bar/litres capacity | PSSR | Require a Written Scheme of Examination. The Written Scheme determines the frequency and nature of examinations. Typical frequencies for examinations are: - Steam systems: 14 months - Air systems: 26 months - Other gases: 5-10 years |
| - Storage of hazardous fluids | COMAH | - May require Written Scheme of Examination | |
| Lifting | - Passenger lifts | LOLER | - Any place of work: 6-monthly statutory thorough examination - Property owners: duty of care under Health and Safety at Work Act for common areas. 6-monthly thorough examination advised |
| - Escalators | - Statutory where the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 applies in places of work | ||
| - Lifting machines, cranes, etc. | - Annual thorough examination | ||
| - Lifting accessories (chains, ropes, etc) | - 6-monthly examinations | ||
| - Lifting persons | - 6-monthly examinations | ||
| - Excavators | - Annual thorough examination (if used for lifting) | ||
| Fixed electrical systems | - Commercial premises | EAWR | - 5-yearly inspection and testing is considered appropriate for most premises |
| - Industrial premises | - 3-yearly inspection and testing | ||
| - Quarries | - Annual or 6-montly inspection and testing | ||
| - Hazardous areas | DSEAR | - 1-3-yearly inspection and testing | |
| Power presses and associated machinery | - Mechanical presses (including mechanical press brakes) | PUWER | - Thorough Examination by a Competent Person at 6/12-monthly intervals, depending on the type of guarding employed - Examination of enclosed parts and tests of the electrical system to HSG236 (Health & Safety Executive guidance) |
| - Hydraulic/pneumatic/servo presses (including press brakes) | - Inspection by a Competent Person at 6/12-monthly intervals, depending on the type of guarding employed | ||
| Local exhaust ventilation | - Fume and non-metallic dust extraction | CLAW & COSHH | - 14-monthly examinations (usually examined annually) |
| - Metallic dust extraction | - Six-monthly examinations if used more than 12 hours per week; otherwise, 14-monthly examinations | ||
| - Blasting of castings | COSHH | - Monthly examinations |