Element 4 Flashcards
The phrase “Work Equipment” is used in a very broad way, but is in keeping with PUWER. Identify what equipment is meant by “Work Equipment”?
- Simple hand tools (hammer, screwdriver or chisel).
- Hand-held power tools (portable electric drill or saw).
- Single machines (photocopier, etc).
- Mobile work equipment (tractor, etc).
- Machine assemblies, where several machines are linked together.
What does PUWER stand for?
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Explain what manufacturers are required to do in order to ensure that equipment that they produce meets basic safety standards.
- Fix a “CE” Mark to the equipment.
- Provide a written “Declaration of Conformity” to the purchaser.
“Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008”
List the methods by which employers must prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery?
- Fix enclosed guards.
- Fix other guards and protection devices such as interlocked guards and pressure mats.
- Protection appliances such as jigs, holders and push-sticks.
- Information, instruction, training and supervision.
When ensuring that safeguards are put in place to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, there are 3 distinct principles. What are they?
- The safeguards place a physical barrier between a person and a dangerous part.
- The safeguards use devices that only allow access while the equipment is in a safe condition.
- The safeguard devices detect a persons presence and stops the machine.
Outline the various regimes where by maintenance can be carried out on work equipment?
- Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM).
- Condition-based maintenance.
- Breakdown maintenance.
Explain why maintenance work often creates greater risk for the staff involved?
- Guards and enclosures have to be removed to allow access.
- Safety devices have to be removed or disabled.
- Equipment has to be partially or completely dismantled.
- Power sources may be exposed (electrical supply).
- Stored power may be accidentally released (compressed springs).
- Access may be awkward (Space constraints).
- Handling of parts may be difficult (heavy parts).
- Additional hazards might be introduced (power tools).
List some additional precautions that may be required during maintenance work?
- Maintenance should only be carried out by competent staff.
- Power sources should be isolated and physically locked off.
- Stored power should be released or secured to prevent accidental damage.
- Where power cannot be isolated, additional precautions are required (covering live parts with insulating material, using additional PPE such as insulating rubber gloves).
- If dangerous moving parts have to be accessed, additional precautions are required ( run at very slow speed rather than normal operating speed, fit maintenance guards that have made specifically to allow minimum access to required areas).
- Precautions should be taken to allow safe access, especially when working at height.
- Handling aids and equipment should be used to reduce manual handling risk.
Identify what “Equipment Controls” should be?
- Well designed so they are easy to use.
- Placed at suitable locations on the equipment.
- Easily identifiable.
- Kept in good working order.
- Compliant with relevant standards.
- That stop controls override all other controls.
List some BASIC requirements that equipment should meet?
- Be stable.
- Be appropriately marked.
- Have appropriate warning signs.
List some considerations with regard to the physical environment around work equipment?
- Lighting considerations.
- Markings.
- Warnings.
- Space considerations.
Outline the lighting considerations around work equipment?
- Adequate for both operators safety and others.
- Local lighting (spotlights) for high level lighting in critical areas.
- Lighting is suitable for equipment (avoid flickering light around a rotating piece of equipment).
- Lighting suitable for environment (intrinsically safe lighting used in a potentially flammable atmosphere).
Outline the marking considerations around work equipment?
- “Stop/Start” controls.
- Abrasive wheel rotation speeds.
- Safe working loads.
- Colour coding of gas cylinders for recognition of contents.
- Contents of storage vessels and nature of hazardous contents.
- Pipework colour coding.
Outline the warning considerations around work equipment?
- Notices.
- Safety signs.
- Permit to work systems.
Outline the space considerations around work equipment?
- Adequate space for workers to move around work equipment.
- Other people move around safely without coming into close proximity to dangerous parts of machinery.