A fundamental part of complying with both PUWER and the Machinery Directive is understanding what falls under the scope of both pieces of legislation. We'll look at the Machinery Directive over the next few weeks as there are a number of definitions within the Directive, so we'll start off looking at PUWER.
Regulation 2 of PUWER states the following: "Work equipment means any machinery, appliance, apparstus, tool or installation for use at work (whether exclusively or not). The HSE'sApproved Code of Practice (ACOP L22) includes the following guidance:
The scope of work equipment is extremely wide. it covers almost any equipment used at work including:
a) 'tool box tools' such as hammers, knives, handsaws etc
b) single machines such as drilling machines, circular saws, photocopiers, combine harvesters, dumper trucks etc
c) apparatus such as laboratory apparatus (bunsen burners etc)
d) lifting equipment such as hoists, lift trucks, etc
e) other equipment such as ladders, water cleaners etc
f) an installation such as a series of machines connected together for example a paper-making line
Another way of looking at the scope is to look at the HSE statistics to see what equipment has been inspected. In the past cases have gone to court for accidents with a postman's bike and a powered bed in a care home. It's also recognised that a company vehicle, or a car being used on company business, is also technically work equipment.
So next time someone says that PUWER isn't applicable, you might need to think again.
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