Equipment & Machine Handling

Work equipment
There is a great deal of equipment used at work, and much of it can be hazardous. In this
context work equipment covers machinery, appliances, apparatus or tools. They can be manual
or powered, handheld or large. Examples include:
Hand tools - hammer, screw driver, pliers, knife, saw;
Powered hand tools - drill, sander, plane, router;
Fixed powered tools - drilling machine, power dress, lathe, miller;
Vehicles - dump truck, fork lift, crane;
Lifts (elevators) - for people or objects;
Office equipment - computer, photo copier, TV.
Safety issues related to work
equipment
Work equipment hazards

Work equipment can be hazardous when it is being used, maintained, installed, dismantled,
moved or cleaned. People who may be harmed include those doing the work and those in the
Vicinity The potential hazards include:
Moving parts that can cause entanglement (wrap around);
Moving parts that can draw-in body parts, hair, clothing (pinch points);
Crushing;
Shear points (2 edges moving together to cut - scissor action);
Hot or cold surfaces;
Vibration;
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Sharp edges and points (moving or stationary);
Abrasive surfaces;
Ejected parts;
Fumes, dust, gas, vapour, liquid etc.
Noise;
Fire;
Electricity;
Release of stored energy (spring, pressure);
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Equipment moving (self propelled, down hill, being pushed);

Equipment turning over.
Risks may occur through the working conditions and the task at hand. It is important to ensure
that the correct equipment is selected with these factors in mind, and that equipment is used
correctly.
Hand tools
Hand tools can cause injury and the risks need to be managed. Basic precautions
include using the appropriate tool for the job, keeping tools in good condition and
training people to use the tools. The following specific guidance applies:
Hammers - avoid split, broken or loose shafts and worn or chipped heads. Make sure
the heads are properly secured to the shafts;
Files - these should have a proper handle. Never use them as levers;
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Chisels - the cutting edge should be sharpened to the correct angle. Do not allow the head
of cold chisels to spread to a mushroom shape (grind off the sides regularly);
Screwdrivers - never use them as chisels and never use hammers on them. Split handles
are dangerous;
Spanners - avoid splayed jaws. Scrap any which show signs of slipping. Have enough spanners of the
right size.
Powered work equipment
Work equipment is often powered by electricity, which requires certain precautions. Others means of
power include pneumatic (pressured air) and powder activated (i.e. cartridge). These are typically more
hazardous that hand tools and their use requires additional precautions. The key stages to managing the
risks from powered work equipment include:
Select the correct equipment for the job;
Make sure equipment is properly maintained and repaired;
Make sure components are in good condition (e.g. blunt bits and blades can increase
vibration and noise);
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Inspect equipment and keep records;
Users to check equipment before use;
Users to be trained and provided with information and instructions;
Use guards;
Use in a good environment (e.g. lighting, temperature).
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It must be possible to maintain, clean, erect and dismantle equipment safely. Ideally these
activities are performed when powered equipment is stopped and de-energised. However, this
is not always possible, in which case safe systems of are required to manage the risks.
Signs and notices should be posted on equipment to provide warning about hazards. Also,
measures should be taken to prevent unauthorized use. Modifications to equipment should be
carried out by competent people.
Equipment guards
Guards are put in place to keep people away from moving parts and to contain ejected
hazards. Where guards cannot be used some other controls may be possible (e.g. keeping
people away from the danger zone using barriers, procedures etc.).
A fixed guard is attached to the machine and forms a physical barrier between people and
hazards. They should be attached in a way that requires a special tool to remove. They are
simple but can restrict use of the equipment. They are most useful when the guard only needs
to be removed infrequently.
Interlocked guards can be moved to a position that does not provide protection, but the interlock
stops the machine and does not allow it to be started unless the guard in is the correct position.
In some cases the guard cannot be moved whilst the machine is running.
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As well as deciding between fixed and interlocked guards, their design and materials of
construction need to be considered. Issues to consider include:
Strength (to withstand ejected items);
Rigidity (so cannot be deformed and hence bypassed);
Durability;
Visibility for the user to see the job at hand;
Clearance to allow the job to be set-up;
How it is fixed to the machine;
Ventilation to allow heat or fumes to escape.
Cont.
Other options for keeping people safe when equipment is in use include enclosing it, with an
interlock on the door so that the machine cannot start whilst the door is open. Also, procedural
controls can keep people out of the area, possibly with addition of optical sensors acting as
interlocks.
Work equipment operating controls

Consideration needs to be given to how people are going to control the equipment. This
includes:
Starting - being in position to confirm safe to start before operating;
Stopping;
Stopping in emergency - may require quicker stop than normal and/or isolating from power
source;
Making changes to direction, speed etc.
Inspecting and maintaining work
equipment
Where the safety of work equipment depends on the way it is installed it is important that it is
inspected after installation and before the first time it is used.
Where it is possible that the condition of the work equipment may deteriorate through use or the
conditions it is exposed to it is important that it is inspected at suitable intervals and after any
exceptional event or circumstance that may have deterioration.
Where identified as necessary, records of inspection results and maintenance carried out must
be made; and these records must be kept up to date.
Work equipment regulations
PUWER 1998 are very wide ranging regulations covering almost every type of equipment used
at work. 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, in certain circumstances, 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.
Mechanical and manual handling

Items that are not intrinsically hazardous can become so when we try to lift, lower or move them. This is
the case whether we are using mechanical devices or doing it manually, usually due to gravity and
momentum.
Mechanical lifting and lowering
Objects can be lifted or lowered using a number of different types of equipment including:
Block and tackle;
Lift truck;
Crane;
Hoist;
Scissor lift;
Dumb waiter;
Personnel lift (i.e. connecting floors in building).

Additional equipment is often required to attach and suspend the load including chains, rope and
slings. In some cases this equipment can be wrapped around the object. In other cases eyebolts,
hooks or shackles are required to allow attachment.
Mechanical lifting hazards
There are a number of way people can be harmed when items are being lifted or lowered.
Dropping the load is clearly of great concern, and this can be caused by:
Failure of slings, chains, rope;
Failure of securing point on load;
Failure of lifting equipment;
Crane or other equipment toppling;
Swinging load;
People being in the wrong place (i.e. no failure of equipment).

There are additional hazards during lifting including the possibility of the load or lifting lines colliding with
or being snagged on other equipment, including power cables.
Safe use of mechanical equipment for
lifting
The following need to be considered when planning and carrying out a lift:
The load weight, centre of gravity, size, vulnerability to being blown around by the wind;
Selecting lifting equipment capacity, reach, means of travel with the
load, visibility, potential for engine to act as ignition source and ventilation of fumes;
Inspecting equipment before lift;
Attachment method strength of slings and any anchor points, and potential for damage
caused by the load (e.g. sharp edges);
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Lifting method lifting and lowering at a suitable, slow speed, use of tag lines to control the
load when suspended;
Personnel - competent driver/or operator, need for banksman and their competence;
Adjacent hazards;
Weather;
Communication typically with banksman or two-way radio in some situations (although this
needs careful consideration as it cannot be 100% reliable);
Protecting people and plant under suspended loads.