4.1 General Requirements for Work Equipment

Question 1

What does PUWER stand for?

Answer 1

Provision and Use of work Equipment Regulations

Question 2

Part 1 of PUWER covers

Answer 2

management duties that are applicable to all work equipment

Question 3

Part 2 of PUWER covers

Answer 3

physical aspects of machinery safety

Question 4

Part 3 of PUWER covers

Answer 4

risks from mobile work equipment

Question 5

Determining the suitability of work equipment requires consideration of:

Answer 5

(a) its initial integrity
(b) the place where it will be used
(c) the purpose for which it will be used

Question 6

Maintenance logs are a practical way of demonstrating that work equipment is subject to regular maintenance. Are they legally required?

Answer 6

No, but if used they must be kept up to date.

Question 7

There are three types of maintenance systems. What are they?

Answer 7

Planned preventative

Condition-based

Breakdown

Question 8

Where the safety of work equipment depends on the installation conditions, it should be inspected, to ensure that it has been installed correctly and is safe to operate.

When should inspections be carried out?

Answer 8

after installation

prior to first time use

after assembly in new location

at suitable intervals

after any exceptional circumstance

Question 9

What is being described below?

zone where a person is exposed to a risk to safety from contact with a dangerous part of machinery or a rotating stock-bar.

Answer 9

danger zone

Question 10

In connection with machinery guarding, what is the ‘Stock-bar’?

Answer 10

piece of stock metal which projects beyond the head-stock of a lathe while being turned.

Question 11

In connection with machinery guarding, what are some examples of ‘Protection devices’?

Answer 11

trip devices
light curtains
pressure-sensitive mats
two-hand controls

Question 12

In connection with machinery guarding, what are ‘Protection appliances’?

Answer 12

implements used to hold or manipulate a work piece at a machine while keeping the operators body clear of the danger zone.

Question 13

What are the main management duties under Part 1 of PUWER 1998

Answer 13

 Selection of suitable equipment;
 Maintenance;
 Inspection;
 Information, instructions and training; and
 Conformity with the requirements of EC Directives on product safety.

Question 14

Part 2 of PUWER 1998 cover the physical aspects of machinery safety. What are they?

Answer 14

 Guarding of dangerous parts
 Controls, including emergency stop controls
 Stability
 Warning markings and devices
 Suitable and sufficient lighting