This section covers the different safety aspects of using machinery and maintaining plant and equipment in the workplace. Employers should consider how their workers use machinery, and have adequate maintenance arrangements in place to ensure it remains safe to use. There is also specific advice on lifting equipment and carrying out vehicle repairs. Case study
They should think about what hazards can occur if:
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Extra care is also required if maintenance involves:
Establishing a planned maintenance programme is a useful step towards reducing risk, as well as having a reporting procedure for workers who may notice problems while working on machinery. Some items of plant and equipment may have safety-critical features where deterioration would cause a risk. Employers must have arrangements in place to make sure the necessary inspections take place. But there are other steps to consider: Before employers instruct workers to start maintenance
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What caused the accident? The fall happened because there was nothing to make workers aware of the dangers caused by machinery maintenance. Barriers, guards and signs should have been used to indicate that maintenance was taking place. Employers should ensure plant and equipment is made safe before maintenance starts, through: Safe isolation
If the employer provides lifting equipment for use at work, or if they have control of the use of lifting equipment, they must make sure it is safe. Employers should think about what risks there may be and how they can be managed, for example:
Motor vehicle repair work has particular dangers and the employer (or self employed person) needs to identify and minimize the risks to both safety and health. To help them achieve this, some specific precautions should be taken:
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