Health and Safety Policy Arrangements – Plant and Equipment

Plant and equipment refer to the machinery, tools, and devices used in various workplace operations. Ensuring the safety and proper maintenance of plant and equipment is crucial for preventing accidents and injuries. In the UK, employers are required to comply with regulations such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), which mandate that work equipment provided for use at work is suitable for its intended purpose, maintained in safe condition, and used only by adequately trained personnel. This includes conducting regular inspections, servicing, and risk assessments to identify potential hazards. Additionally, safe operating procedures and proper training must be provided to employees to ensure they understand how to use the equipment safely. Effective management of plant and equipment enhances operational efficiency, minimizes downtime, and significantly reduces the risk of workplace accidents and injuries.

Take a look at the information below for things you might want to include in your own H&S policy…

Feel free to copy / paste this list, and you can find out more about our full H&S policy here.

The [Proprietor / Directors] of [My Company] will ensure that;

  1. All plant and equipment used at work – supplied, hired, purchased, etc. is suitable for the purpose for which it is used
  2. All plant and equipment is regularly maintained by a competent person and kept in good working order, and have an up to date maintenance log where required
  3. Suitable instruction/demonstration is obtained from hire companies for the users of any plant and equipment hired in by the company
  4. Any plant and equipment that involves a specific risk to the health and safety of employees, will only be used by competent trained persons and where appropriate nominated persons only will use such equipment  
  5. When any plant and equipment is found to be defective it will be immediately withdrawn from use, and be prevented from reuse until repaired/replaced
  6. All safety devices and guards will be in place and operable at all times
  7. All employees operating plant and equipment will be provided with adequate supervision, training, instruction and information necessary to operate the plant and equipment safely

Our minimum health and safety performance standards will be obtained from; but not restricted to;

  • The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
  • The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
  • HSE’s L22 – Safe use of Work Equipment
  • HSG 17 – Safety in the use of abrasive wheels
  • INDG 291 – Providing and using work equipment safely

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Written By Ian