Title Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Policy (PUWER) Reference Number AR-RMD-HSMS38 DOCUMENT HISTORY Review dates Issue Date Issue Date Amendment(s) 0.1 Jan-06 6.0 Sept-12 0.2 Feb-06 7.0 Nov-13 1.0 March-06 8.0 Oct-15 Annual Review Minor amendments to terminology, formatting, grammar, and hyperlinks 2.0 Jan-07 9.0 3.0 Jan-08 March 17 Changed support service to professional service. Change of VC name 4.0 Oct-09 5.0 May-11 Author Name: P. Varley Reviewer Name: HSPG Authorised by Name: I. Martin Vice Chancellor Issued by Name: Risk Management AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 0 of 16
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Policy (PUWER) AR-RMD-HSMS38 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary... 2 2. PUWER... 3 2.1 Policy... 3 2.2 Application... 3 3. Requirements and Responsibilities... 4 3.1 Vice Chancellor... 4 3.2 Health and Safety Policy Group... 4 3.3 Faculty Deans and Directors of Professional services... 4 3.4 All Staff... 5 3.5... 6 4. References... 6 Appendix 1 - Risk Assessment Form... 7 Appendix 2 - PUWER Guidance... 8 Appendix 3 Equipment Safety Checklist... 13 AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 1 of 16
1. Executive Summary The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) require risks to people s health and safety, from equipment that they use at work, to be prevented or controlled. In addition to the requirements of PUWER, lifting equipment is also subject to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). This policy and associated guidance will enable Anglia Ruskin to comply with legislative requirements and staff to use the equipment safely. This will be achieved through risk assessment at the procurement, installation and use of equipment stage. PUWER covers a wide range of equipment such as: machinery, photocopiers, circular saws, laboratory equipment and lifting equipment. Originating Legislation: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Other relevant documents: Health and Safety Management System Risk Assessment AR-RMD-HSMS22 AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 2 of 16
2. PUWER 2.1 Policy Anglia Ruskin is committed to ensuring that all its employees are consistently provided with a level of competent health and safety management appropriate to the degree of risk associated with their activities. Anglia Ruskin will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the risks to the health and safety of staff, students and visitors will be managed in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and other appropriate regulations and guidance. To comply with the relevant legislation and guidance, Anglia Ruskin will: Appoint competent persons, within (RM), to assist Anglia Ruskin in understanding, coming to terms with and complying with the regulations Clearly define the role of all personnel in order to help them to effectively meet their responsibilities within the university health and safety management system (HSMS) Ensure that all staff are suitably trained to deal with the health and safety issues relevant to their position Provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to all relevant staff, students and visitors Ensure effective liaison with local authorities and other external bodies where appropriate Ensure that faculty deans and directors of professional services have made suitable and sufficient written assessment of risks posed to the health, safety and welfare of members of their staff who are required to drive on work purposes Provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to staff that use work equipment. 2.2 Application It is the policy of Anglia Ruskin that its health and safety activities will be based on the requirements identified by risk assessments, as per the HSMS chapter on risk assessments (AR-RMD-HSMS22). This includes carrying out risk assessments for the procurement, use and maintenance of work equipment. The assessment process will evaluate the effectiveness of existing risk control measures and, where necessary, require the identification and implementation of additional or alternative controls. These, in turn, must be assessed in order to AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 3 of 16
ensure that additional unacceptable risks are not being introduced into Anglia Ruskin s activities. This policy document applies to those in managerial positions (i.e. faculty deans and directors of professional services and their managers and supervisors) as their duties include ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for all tasks involving use of work equipment or machinery within their area of responsibility. 3. Requirements and Responsibilities 3.1 Vice Chancellor The vice chancellor has overall responsibility for the establishment, ongoing development, implementation, monitoring and review of the HSMS. 3.2 Health and Safety Policy Group The health and safety policy group (HSPG) have been delegated operational responsibility for planning and guiding the ongoing development, implementation, monitoring and review of the HSMS, including this procedure. 3.3 Faculty Deans and Directors of Professional services The faculty deans and directors of professional services are responsible for: The implementation of this procedure within their area of responsibility Identifying the required level of general health and safety competency required by their managers Ensuring that there are arrangements in place to provide appropriate information to members of staff, students, visitors etc Ensuring when procuring work equipment it conforms to the relevant legal standards Ensuring that they, provide the right kind of safe equipment for use at work; ensure that it can be used correctly; and keep it maintained in a safe condition. Ensuring that any contractors using their own equipment on any university property provide suitable risk assessments for its use AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 4 of 16
Ensuring that no personal equipment is used on university property without permission of the dean/director of professional services and where appropriate without PAT testing by Estates and Facilities Services. Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all items of machinery or machinery based activities within their area(s) of responsibility, as per the risk assessment chapter of the HSMS (AR-RMD-HSMS22), with each assessment being assigned a unique identification number and recorded on the risk assessment form (Appendix 1). Ensuring that those responsible for carrying out risk assessments have been appropriately trained Note: No person will be considered as competent to undertake risk assessments unless they have been trained to do so. This can be arranged through RM Ensuring that all documents are subject to the requirements of the control of health and safety documents chapter of the HSMS (AR- RMD-HSMS12) Providing a report each semester to the HSPG, in order to aid their review of the HSMS Note: The faculty deans/directors of professional services may delegate the above tasks to specific managers, within their area of authority, as appropriate. Note: A permit is required for any hazardous activities, such as working from height, electrical work, confined space entry and excavation. The control and monitoring of a permit to work system and ensures; A permit is required for any hazardous activities, such as working from height, electrical work, confined space entry and excavation. The permit to work system operates effectively in each location The permit to work system is monitored to confirm compliance and identify deficiencies or shortcomings Corrective action is taken to address deficiencies or shortcomings. A copy of the permit to work procedure document is available from Estates and Facilities Services. 3.4 All Staff All staff that use machinery for work purposes are responsible for: AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 5 of 16
Regularly refreshing their knowledge of the equipment and procedures associated with its safe use Using any PPE as per defined instructions for safe use of the equipment Ensuring that they only use work equipment they are trained to use 3.5 RM is responsible for: Providing support to all staff required to carry out risk assessments, if requested and appropriate Provide support and guidance for staff in the use and maintenance of work equipment (appendix 2) Carrying out risk assessment training, if requested and appropriate Monitoring the quality of individual assessments via a random sampling process Carrying out internal audits on compliance with all HSMS documents, as per the document on health and safety management system audits (AR-RMD-HSMS08) 4. References The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 6 of 16
Appendix 1 - Risk Assessment Form Subject of assessment (May be an activity, hazard or relate to an individual) RA conducted by. Date. RA ref. no. List the risk/s involved or describe the hazard List the current control measures in place. Please check the RM website for help and advice available at; http://my.anglia.ac.uk/sites/risk/default.aspx Current risk level. High / Medium / Low (See risk matrix) (Delete as appropriate) List the actions required to reduce the risk, include reference to any written safety procedures. Please check the RM website for help and advice available at; http://my.anglia.ac.uk/sites/risk/default.aspx Date actioned Actioned by Revised risk level. High / Medium / Low (See risk matrix) (Delete as appropriate) RA verified by (usually dean/director of professional service/line manager) Date. Risk assessment issued to the following; Date. Risk assessment review date. (Usually annually) Risk assessment reviewed by. AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 7 of 16
Appendix 2 - PUWER Guidance Scope of PUWER In general terms, the regulations require that equipment provided for use at work is: Suitable for the intended use. Safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure this remains the case. Used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training. Accompanied by suitable safety measures, e.g. protective devices, markings, warnings. Examples of the uses of equipment which are covered by the regulations include starting or stopping the equipment, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing, cleaning and transporting. The regulations covers factories, offices, shops, hospitals, hotels, colleges, universities, places of entertainment, etc. Requirement of the Regulations Work equipment must meet the requirement of PUWER and this can be achieved by ensuring it is: Suitable for use, and for the designed purpose and conditions in which it is used. Maintained in a safe condition for use so that people s health and safety are not at risk Inspected in certain circumstances to ensure that it is, and continues to be, safe for use. Any inspection should be carried out by a competent person this could be an employee if they have the competence to perform the task) and a record kept until the next inspection (see Appendix 3). Any risks created by the use of the equipment should be eliminated where possible or controlled by: Taking appropriate hardware measures, e.g. providing suitable guards, protection devices, marking and warning devices, system control devices (such as emergency stop buttons) and personal protective equipment. Taking appropriate software measures such as following safe systems of work (e.g. ensuring maintenance is only undertaken when the equipment is shut down, etc) and providing adequate information, instruction and training. Dependant upon the risk assessment a combination of these measures may be necessary depending on the requirements of the work. People using work AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 8 of 16
equipment must have received adequate training, instruction and information for the particular equipment. Procuring Work Equipment Before you buy it, think about: where and how it will be used; what it will be used for; who will use it (skilled employees, trainees); what risks to health and safety might result; comparing how well health and safety risks are controlled by different manufacturers. This can help you to decide which machine may be suitable, particularly if you are buying a standard machine 'off the shelf'. If you are buying a more complex or custom-built machine you should discuss your requirements with potential suppliers. They can often advise you on the options available. For a custom-built machine, you can use the opportunity to work with the supplier to design out the causes of injury and ill health. Some of the items you can cover are in the checklist on Appendix 3. Time spent now on agreeing the necessary safeguards, to control health and safety risks, could save you time and money later. Note: Sometimes machinery is supplied via another organisation, e.g. an importer, rather than direct from the manufacturer, so this organisation is referred to as the supplier. When you place the order, specify in writing that the machine should be safe. When you have bought it, look for CE marking, check that you have a copy of the declaration of conformity and a set of instructions in English on how the machine should be used and most important of all, check to see if you think that it is safe. Maintenance Work equipment must be maintained in an efficient state, working order and repair. The term efficient relates to how the condition of the equipment may affect health and safety; it is not concerned with productivity. Guards, emergency stops, etc. have to be maintained to fulfil their function at all times. The necessity to maintain other components may not be as obvious, but as an example, failure to lubricate bearings or replace a clogged filter might lead to danger because of seized parts or overheating. Equipment must be maintained so that its performance does not deteriorate to the extent that it puts people at risk. The extent and complexity of maintenance will vary enormously, from simple checks on hand tools (e.g. loose head on a hammer or AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 9 of 16
splayed mushroom head on a chisel) to a substantial integrated programme for complex process plant. Maintenance work should only be carried out by persons who have received adequate information, instruction and training. Routine maintenance including lubrication, inspection and testing should be based on manufacturer s recommendations and any other legislative requirements. When inadequate maintenance could cause equipment, guards and other protective devices to fail in a dangerous way, a formal system of planned, preventative maintenance will be necessary. Where necessary, maintenance should be achieved through a system of written instructions to initiate inspection, testing and periodic replacement or refurbishment of components or equipment before they reach the end of their useful life. Although not a legal requirement always ensure that a maintenance log is kept and updated regularly. Training Employees must receive appropriate training prior to the use of any work equipment. The content of the training will include: 1. The conditions in which and the methods by which the equipment may be used. 2. The foreseeable abnormal situations and the action to be taken if such a situation was to occur. 3. The results of any experience in the use of the equipment. This must include an overview of relevant statutory requirements, e.g. noise emission levels, dangerous parts of equipment, etc WHAT RISKS ARE THERE FROM USING WORK EQUIPMENT? Many things can represent a hazard, for example: Using the wrong equipment for the job, e.g. ladders instead of access towers for an extended job at high level; Not fitting adequate guards on machines, leading to accidents caused by entanglement, shearing, crushing, trapping or cutting; Not fitting adequate controls, or the wrong type of controls, so that equipment cannot be turned off quickly and safely, or starts accidentally; Not properly maintaining guards, safety devices, controls etc so that machines or equipment become unsafe; Not providing the right information, instruction and training for those using the equipment; Not fitting roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts on mobile work equipment where there is a risk of roll over Not maintaining work equipment or carrying out regular inspections and thorough examinations; AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 10 of 16
Not providing the personal protective equipment needed to use certain machines safely, e.g. chainsaws, angle grinders. Identifying the risks When identifying the risks, think about: All the work which has to be done with the equipment during normal use and also during setting-up, maintenance, repair, breakdowns and removal of blockages; Who will use the equipment, including inexperienced workers, workers with language difficulties, new starters, people who have changed jobs within the company or those who may have particular difficulties, e.g. those with impaired mobility or poor readers; young people, who may be inexperienced and lack knowledge or awareness of existing or potential risks; Staff who may act foolishly or carelessly or are likely to make mistakes; Whether guards or safety devices are poorly designed and inconvenient to use or are easily defeated (this could encourage workers to risk injury); The type of power supply, e.g. electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic - each type has different risks and ways to control them. WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE RISKS? Use the right equipment for the job Many accidents happen because people have not chosen the right equipment for the work to be done. Controlling the risk often means planning ahead and ensuring that suitable equipment or machinery is available. Guard dangerous parts of machines Controlling the risk often means guarding the parts of machines and equipment that could cause injury. Remember: Use fixed guards wherever possible, properly fastened in place with screws or nuts and bolts which need tools to remove them; If employees need regular access to parts of the machine and a fixed guard is not possible, use an interlocked guard for those parts. This will ensure that the machine cannot start before the guard is closed and will stop if the guard is opened while the machine is operating; In some cases, e.g. on guillotines, devices such as photoelectric systems or automatic guards may be used instead of fixed or interlocked guards; Check that guards are convenient to use and not easy to defeat, otherwise they may need modifying; think about the best materials for guards - plastic may be easy to see through, but can be easily scratched or damaged. If wire mesh or similar materials are used, make sure the holes are not large enough to allow access to the danger area. As well as preventing such access, a guard may also be used to prevent harmful fluids, dust etc from escaping; Make sure the guards allow the machine to be cleaned and maintained safely; where guards cannot give full protection, use jigs, holders, push sticks etc to move the work piece. AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 11 of 16
Select the right controls Make sure stop and start buttons are readily accessible; Ensure control switches are clearly marked to show what they do Make sure operating controls are designed and placed to avoid accidental operation, e.g. by shrouding start buttons and pedals Interlocked or trapped key systems for guards may be necessary to prevent operators and maintenance workers from entering the danger areas before the machine has stopped Where appropriate, have emergency stop controls within easy reach, particularly on larger machines so they can be operated quickly in an emergency; ensure that a machine can only be re-started following a stoppage by use of the start control. It should not be possible to re-start the machine simply by re-setting a device such as an interlock guard or trip bar AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 12 of 16
Appendix 3 Equipment Safety Checklist This checklist should be copied and used for all machinery. Location and Description of Equipment Major Hazards Precautions against these Hazards Where the answer is No to any of the following questions, spaces for notes of remedial action is provided at the bottom of the form. These should be listed in the summary in order of priority. Information, Instruction and Safe Use Yes No N/A 1. Have all users of the equipment been given adequate training in correct use, risks and precautions? 2. Is there a list of authorised users or a training record that verifies this? 3. Have any written instructions provided by the manufacturer/supplier been passed on to the users? 1. Are there written instructions covering: - i. Any unusual hazards of complicated features? ii. Where appropriate, emergency shutdown? 6. Is the equipment being used in accordance with the instructions given in accordance with Q1 7. If it has been adapted, is the adaptation suitable and safe? 8. Is the equipment used ion an appropriate environment? (Consider ventilation, damp, flammable atmosphere) 9. Are control switches, other operating controls, and the contents of any containers, marked? 10. Are there clear warning notices or markings (to wear PPE, restrictions on use, list of authorised users) where appropriate?) AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 13 of 16
Maintenance Yes No N/A 1. What are the appropriate intervals for checking: Electrical safety? Any safety devices? 2. If inadequate maintenance could cause the equipment, guards or other protection to fail in a dangerous way, is there a system of planned preventive maintenance, including where appropriate the periodic replacement of refurbishing of items before the end of their useful life? 3. Is the equipment and system of maintenance designed to minimise any risks that may arise during maintenance? 4. Have clear maintenance instructions been given to those responsible for maintaining the equipment? Specific Hazards Yes No N/A 1. Is the protection adequate in relation to: - Items being ejected or falling from the equipment? Overturning or collapse? Overheating or fire Disintegration or explosion? 2. Is the equipment made stable where appropriate by bolting, clamping or tying? 3. Is there sufficient general and, where necessary, local lighting? 4. Is there protection against contact with hot or very cold temperature, so far as appropriate? 5. If the possibility of hot/cold contact is unavoidable, has appropriate instruction and training been given? 6. In the case of pressurised equipment, is there a written scheme of examination? 7. If gas, fume or dust is released when the equipment is used, AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 14 of 16
is there: Local exhaust ventilation, tested annually? A specific COSHH risk assessment? Machinery Y N N/A 1. Are all parts of dangerous machinery guarded? 2. Are all guards sound, and in good working order 3. Do they permit an adequate view of the operation where this is necessary? 4. Is it difficult to bypass or disable them? 5. Can the machinery only be started when a specific labeled start device is used? (NB the normal cycle of automated machinery is exempt from this requirement) 6. Is it impossible to start the machine just by resetting a safety device? 7. Is there a readily accessible stop device that stops the machinery in a safe way? 8. Where appropriate (i.e. where in a foreseeable emergency it could help) is there a prominent easily accessible emergency stop device? 9. Can controls be operated safety and easily? 10. Is there a system of work that ensures that nobody is in a dangerous position when machinery is about to start? 11.Does the start device need to be activated to restart the machine if: The power fails A control or safety device fails to trip out? 12. If the power is isolated, does the machinery come to rest safely without the possibility of access to dangerous parts? AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 15 of 16
13. Can the equipment be securely isolated from power to prevent inadvertent reconnection: By removing a plug from a socket that is easily visible to the person at risk By locking it off? 14. If the machinery was put on the market after 1.1.95 does it carry the European CE mark? Remedial Action Date of Completion 1 2 3 4 5 Signature Date Date for review (<2 years) AR-RMD-HSMS38/Issue 9.0 Page 16 of 16