Element 9: Work equipment

9.1 General requirements                                                                                         

• Providing suitable equipment
• Preventing access to dangerous parts of machinery
• When the use and maintenance of equipment with specific risks needs to be restricted
• Providing information, instruction and training about specific risks to people at risk, including users, maintenance staff and managers
• Why equipment should be maintained and maintenance conducted safely
• Emergency operation controls, stability, lighting, markings and warnings, clear workspace.

9.2 Hand-held tools                                                                                                

• General considerations for selecting hand-held tools (whether powered or manual):

> Requirements for safe use

> Condition and fitness for use

> Suitability for purpose

> Location to be used in (including flammable atmosphere)

• Hazards of a range of hand-held tools (whether powered or manual) and how these hazards are controlled.

9.3 Machinery hazards                                                                                          

• Potential consequences as a result of contact with, or exposure to, mechanical or other hazards (see ISO 12100:2010 (Table B.1))
• Hazards of a range of equipment:

> Manufacturing/maintenance machinery (including bench-top grinder, pedestal drill)

> Agricultural/horticultural machinery (including cylinder mower, strimmer/brush cutter, chainsaw)

> Retail machinery (including compactor)

> Construction machinery (including cement mixer, bench-mounted circular saw)

> Emerging technologies (including drones, driver-less vehicles).

9.4 Control measures for machinery                                                                          

• The basic principles of operation, advantages and limitations of the following control methods:

> Guards: fixed, interlocking and adjustable/self-adjusting

> Protective devices: two-hand, hold-to-run, sensitive protective equipment (trip devices), emergency stop controls

> Jigs, holders, push-sticks

> Information, instruction, training and supervision

> Personal protective equipment

• Use of the above control methods for the range of equipment listed in 9.3
• Basic requirements for guards and safety devices:

> Compatibility with process

> Adequate strength, maintained

> allow for maintenance without removal

> do not increase risk or restrict view

> are not easily bypassed.

9.1 General requirements

Providing suitable equipment

Before you start

Before permitting someone to use a machine, you must consider the associated hazards and how they will be controlled. You need to:

■ Verify that everything is complete, with all safety features installed, and devoid of flaws. The phrase “safeguard” encompasses guards, interlocks, two-handed controls, light guards, and pressure-sensitive mats, among others. The provider is required by law to provide adequate protections and to advise purchasers of any dangers (‘residual risks’) that users must be aware of and manage because they could not be eliminated during design.

■ Develop a safe procedure for operating and maintaining the machine. Critical features whose deterioration would pose a risk may need to be inspected during maintenance. Examine the residual risks highlighted by the manufacturer in the machine’s information/instructions and ensure they are incorporated into the safe system of work.

■ Verify that every static machine has been installed correctly, is stable (typically bolted down), and is not in an area where other employees, customers, or visitors could be at risk.

■ Select the appropriate tool for the job..

Remember that new machines must bear the CE mark and be accompanied by a Declaration of Conformity and English-language instructions.

Make sure the machine is:

■ Safe for any job that must be performed during installation, routine use, clearing obstructions, performing repairs for breakdowns, and scheduled maintenance;

■ Before removing clogs, cleaning, or adjusting the machine, it must be properly turned off, isolated, or locked off.

Also, make sure you identify and deal with the risks from:

■ Electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic energy sources;

■ improperly conceived safeguards. They may be inconvenient or readily circumvented, which may encourage your employees to risk injury and violate the law. If they are, find out why they are doing it and take the necessary steps to address the issues.

Preventing access to dangerous parts

Consider how to make a machine secure. The steps you take to prevent access to hazardous components should be implemented in the following sequence. In some instances, a combination of these measures may be required:

■ Employ fixed protections (such as screws or nuts and bolts) to enclose potentially hazardous parts whenever possible. Use superior materials for these protectors.

– Plastic may be transparent, but it is also readily destroyed. Ensure that the holes in wire mesh and similar materials are not large enough to provide access to moving parts.

■ If fixed guards are impractical, employ alternative measures, such as interlocking the guard such that the machine cannot be started until the guard is closed and cannot be unlocked while the machine is in motion. In situations where other safeguards are impractical, trip systems such as photoelectric devices, pressure-sensitive mats, and automatic guards may be utilised.

■ Where guards cannot provide complete protection, employ jigs, holders, push sticks, etc., if possible.

■ Control any remaining risk by supplying the operator with the required data, instruction, training, supervision, and safety equipment.

Other things you should consider

■ Training should guarantee that employees who operate the machine are capable of doing so safely. This includes verifying that they possess the necessary abilities, knowledge, experience, and risk awareness, and that they are physically able to perform the activity. Occasionally, formal qualifications are necessary, such as for chainsaw operators.

■ Ensure that control switches are properly indicated with their functions.

■ Have emergency stop controls where essential, such as push buttons with mushroom-shaped heads, within easy reach.

■ Ensure that working controls are designed and positioned to prevent inadvertent activation and injury, employ two-handed controls where appropriate, and cover start buttons and pedals.

■ Do not allow unlicensed, unqualified, or untrained individuals to operate machinery, and never permit children to operate or assist with machinery. Certain employees, such as new hires, teenagers, and those with impairments, may be more vulnerable and require teaching, training, and supervision.

■ If machines are controlled by programmable electronic systems, any programme modifications must be made by a qualified individual (someone who has the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work safely). Keep track of these modifications and verify that they have been made correctly.

■ Ensure that the space surrounding the machine is clean, clear of impediments and trip and fall hazards, and well-lit.

Mobile work equipment

Part III of PUWER comprises specific duties involving mobile work equipment, such as forklifts and dump trucks, in addition to these general standards that apply to all work equipment.

Where mobile work equipment is used to transport people, you should ensure that it is acceptable for this function. Those being transported, the operator, and anybody else should be protected from potential dangers (such as tipping over) by taking precautions.

Power presses

In addition, Part IV of the Rules includes particular criteria for power presses. To ensure the safety of a power press and its related guard or safety device, it should be properly evaluated at set intervals and inspected regularly when in use. Only a qualified individual should undertake this task, and records should be preserved.

Dos and don’ts of machinery safety

As the responsibility holder, you must guarantee that all personnel who are likely to operate machinery comprehend and adhere to the following dos and don’ts:

Do…

Check that the machine is well-maintained and fit for use, i.e. suitable for the job, functioning properly, and that all safety precautions – guards, isolators, locking mechanisms, emergency off switches, etc. – are in place;

Use the machine in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines;

Ensure that staff are using the required protective clothes and equipment, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and safety shoes, when operating this machine.

Ensure that those who operate machinery are capable of doing so safely and give training as needed. Certain machinery requires a formal qualification.

Don’t…

✘ Use a machine or appliance with a warning label or notice affixed. Only an authorised individual who is satisfied that the machine or procedure is now safe may remove warning labels.

✘ Remove any precautions, even if their presence makes the task more challenging;

✘ Do not wear chains, loose clothing, rings, or long hair that could become entangled in moving parts.

✘ Distract individuals using machines.

Plant and equipment maintenance

Why is maintenance of plant and equipment important?

When machinery and equipment become unreliable and acquire defects, new dangers may emerge. Maintenance enables early diagnosis of these flaws in order to mitigate potential dangers. Nonetheless, maintenance must be properly planned and executed. Many fatalities and significant injuries have been caused by unsafe maintenance, either during the maintenance or to individuals utilising poorly kept or improperly maintained/repaired equipment.

An effective maintenance regimen will make plant and equipment more reliable. Less breakdowns will necessitate less harmful contact with machinery, as well as yielding cost savings from increased production and efficiency.

The Provision and Usage of Work Equipment Rules of 1998 stipulate that work equipment and plant must be maintained in such a way that it stays safe and that maintenance operations are performed safely.

What do I have to do?

If you are an employer and you provide equipment for use (such as hammers, knives and ladders or electrical power tools and larger plant), you need to demonstrate that you have arrangements in place to make sure it is maintained in a safe condition.

Think about what hazards can occur:

■ if tools break during use;

■ if machinery starts up unexpectedly;

■ if there is contact with materials that are normally enclosed within the machine, ie caused by leaks/breakage/ejection etc.

Failure to adequately plan and offer clear instructions and information before initiating maintenance might result in confusion and disasters. This is especially problematic when repair is undertaken during typical production hours or when contractors are unfamiliar with the location.

Extra care is also required if maintenance involves:

■ operating at height or in areas of the building that are difficult to access;

■ Entering vessels or tight areas where poisonous compounds or a shortage of oxygen may be present.

How can I do it?

In addition to establishing a planned maintenance programme, it may be beneficial to include a reporting mechanism for workers who observe problems while operating machines.

Certain machinery and equipment may have safety-critical components whose deterioration poses a risk. You must make plans to ensure that the appropriate inspections occur.But there are other steps to consider:

Before you start maintenance

■ Determine if the work should be performed by specialists. Never accept a position for which you are unqualified or unprepared.

■ Develop a safe system of work before beginning the project, ideally using the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. This will reduce risks and prevent unanticipated delays.

■ Ensure that maintenance personnel are qualified and have the proper attire and equipment.

■ Use downtime for maintenance if possible. If maintenance work is completed prior to startup or during downtime, it is possible to prevent challenges in coordinating maintenance and lost productivity.

Safe working areas

■ You must provide safe access and a secure work environment.

■ Focus not only on the safety of maintenance personnel, but also on the safety of anyone who may be affected by their work, such as other employees or contractors who are working nearby.

■ Put up signs and barricades and station personnel at critical locations, if necessary, to keep others out.

Safe plant and equipment

■ Plant and equipment must be made safe before maintenance commences.

Safe isolation

■ Ensure that all moving equipment has stopped and is disconnected from electrical and other power sources. The majority of maintenance should be performed with the power off. If the work area is close to uninsulated, overhead electrical cables, such as close to travelling overhead cranes, power should be shut off to these first.

■ Shut down machinery if there is a danger that the power could be turned back on by accident.

■ Separate equipment and pipelines containing pressurised fluid, gas, steam, or dangerous substance. Close isolation valves.

Other factors you need to consider

■ Release any stored energy that could cause the machine to move or cycle, such as compressed air or hydraulic pressure.

■ Support plant pieces that may fall, such as supporting the blades of bale cutters and guillotines using blocks.

■ Provide high-temperature-operating components time to cool.

■ Put mobile equipment into neutral, apply the brake, and chock the wheels.

■ To prevent explosions, vessels containing flammable solids, liquids, gases, or dusts must be emptied and inspected before hot work is performed. You may need expert assistance and guidance to complete this task safely.

■ Whenever possible, avoid entering tanks, vessels, and restricted areas. Some areas may present significant dangers due to their atmosphere or fire threats, etc. Get specialised assistance if necessary to ensure proper measures are taken.

■ Before beginning work, vessels containing harmful substances must be thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Get specialised assistance if necessary to ensure proper measures are taken.

■ Verify that people who are performing maintenance are qualified to do so. It may be necessary to conduct training to assure competency.

9.2 Hand-held tools

What Are the Hazards of Hand Tools?

Hand tools are tools that are manually operated. Hand tools consist of axes and wrenches, among others. The greatest dangers associated with hand tools are caused by incorrect use and maintenance.

Some examples include the following:

• If a chisel is used as a screwdriver, the chisel’s tip could break off and strike the user or other personnel.
• If the wooden handle of a tool, like a hammer or an axe, is loose, splintered, or broken, the tool’s head may fly off and injure the user or other personnel.
• If a wrench’s jaws are spring-loaded, the wrench may slip.
• If impact tools like chisels, wedges, or drift pins have mushroomed heads, the heads may shatter upon impact, sending sharp shards hurtling towards the user and other personnel.

The employer is responsible for ensuring that all tools and equipment used by employees are in a safe condition. Employers are prohibited from issuing or allowing the use of dangerous hand tools. The proper use and manipulation of tools and equipment must be taught to employees.

When utilising saw blades, knives, or other instruments, personnel should steer them away from aisles and other employees who are working in close proximity. Knives and scissors must be sharp; dull equipment pose a greater risk of injury. Saw blades with cracks must be removed from service.

When the jaws are sprung to the point of slipping, wrenches must not be utilised. The heads of impact tools such as drift pins, wedges, and chisels must not be mushroomed. The tool handles must not have shattered wood.

Sparks from iron or steel hand tools can be a source of fire near combustible substances. Wherever flammable gases, highly volatile liquids, or other explosive chemicals are stored or utilised, spark-resistant equipment constructed from non-ferrous materials must be employed.

What Are the Dangers of Power Tools?

Personal protection equipment, such as safety goggles and gloves, must be worn while using hand tools to protect against potential risks.

The flooring of the workplace must be kept as clean and dry as possible to prevent mishaps involving or near dangerous hand instruments.

Power tools must be equipped with guards and safety switches; inappropriate use is exceedingly harmful. The power source determines the sorts of power tools: electric, pneumatic, liquid fuel, hydraulic, and powder-operated.

To avoid risks related with the use of power tools, employees must take the following general precautions:

• Never transport a device by its lead or hose.
• Never yank on the lead or hose to detach it from the outlet.
• Keep electrical wires and hoses away from heat, grease, and sharp objects.
• When not in use, prior to servicing and cleaning, and when replacing blades, bits, and cutters, disconnect power tools.
• Keep all non-workers at a safe distance from the site of the project.
• Secure the work with clamps or a vice to free both hands for tool operation.
• Prevent accidental starting. Do not hold the switch button while transporting a device that is plugged in.
• Maintain your tools; keep them sharp and clean for optimal performance.
• Refer to the user handbook for lubrication and accessory replacement instructions.
• When utilising power tools, be sure to keep your footing and balance steady.
• Dress appropriately for the task at hand. Loose garments, neckties, and jewellery can become entangled in moving components.
• Remove from service all damaged portable electric tools and label them: “Do Not Use.”

9.3 Machinery Hazards

Manufacturing/maintenance machinery

Bench Top Grinder

Hazards

• Contact with whirling abrasive wheels causes injuries
• Impact injuries caused by exploding wheels (sometimes fatal)
• slicing and crushing injuries caused by entrapment between the wheel and the work support
• Ineffective control of grinding dust including aluminium, magnesium, and related elements causes fires and explosions.
• Eye injuries caused by neglecting to utilise eye protection or protective screens.
• hazardous handling , toxic metalworking fluids
• vibrations caused by hand-fed or hand-held grinding equipment, which may cause a condition known as vibration white finger, which can cause lifelong harm to the hands and arms
• excessive noise from the grinding action and
• Inhaling the hazardous dust and fumes.

Tips for operators

As well as general rules for safe operation, users should be trained:

■ To utilise the appropriate wheel and equipment for the task.

■ Avoid to grind on the sides of straight-sided offhand grinding wheels

■ Keep wheels used for offhand grinding trued and dressed to reduce out-of-balance and for close work rest adjustment.

■ Regularly lubricate spindles

■ To allow brand-new wheels to spin freely for about a minute with no one present.

■ To support heavy work pieces and employ jigs to prevent vibration at pedestal and bench grinding machines routinely used for extended periods, especially for tool sharpening.

■ not to stop wheels by pressing on the wheel face or periphery

■ Not to submerge wheels in coolant, which could cause them to get out of balance. Before wheels are stopped, the coolant should be turned off to allow them to dry.

■ Care should be taken not to introduce large components into centerless grinders in order to reduce the possibility of ejection and whee breaking.

■ to utilise wheel dressers that limit vibration white finger dangers..

Key safety measures

At an infrequently used, manually operated pedestal grinding machine, tools are occasionally sharpened.

■ Opening in guard constrained to what is required to accomplish work

■ Guard of sufficient strength to contain shattered wheel fragments

■ Appropriate work rest

■ rpm of spindle is distinctly indicated

■ Simple accessibility and use of the on/off switch

■ Clear flooring.

For surface grinding equipment operated manually:

In addition to the description of the machine above:

■ Deliver extraction, inspect and test it every fourteen months, and document the results

■ Secure the object firmly

Pedestal Drills

• Hair stuck on spinning spindles, chucks, or instruments
• Entanglement of gloves, garments, bandages, and rings, typically at the drill tip
• Work piece spinning violently due to inadequate clamping, resulting in scalping injuries and shattered bones
• Failure to wear eye protection resulting in eye injuries caused by machine cleaning, swarf removal, and open-sided machining.
• Swarf – inflicting cuts.

Most ill health arises from:

• hazardous handling
• hazardous metalworking fluids
• too much noise

However, the dangers associated with handling and metalworking fluids may be greater at manually driven machines utilised for batch production because to the increased loading/unloading and fluid contact.

Key safety measures

For a manually operated, batch-production machine:

If applicable to component sizes and quantities

• fixed guard
• feed magazine
• discharge slide to
• prevent access to all dangerous parts

Training specifics

In addition to standard rules for safe operation, the following must be taught to users:

■ To wear eye protection, and

NOT

■ to wear jewellery, loose attire, or untied long hair

■ unless complete enclosure of rotating chucks, spindles, and associated rotating parts is given, gloves must be worn.

■ leaving chuck keys within chucks

For a manually operated radial arm drilling machine:

■ Use a proper tripping device and routinely test its functionality

■ Vertical trip within 75 mm of the tool and within the first 90° of rotation from the operator’s location.

■ Securely clamp workpiece to machine table

■ Alternately, adjustable, fixed guards may be utilised..

For a small, manually-operated bench-mounted drill used for a variety of one-time jobs:

■ Adjustable fixed guard so that spindle and drill tip are protected to the fullest extent possible.

■ vice firmly gripped to table

Agricultural/Horticultural Machinery

Cylinder Mowers

Hazards

The biggest danger of damage is posed by the machine’s moving parts, which include:

■ Moving blades or flails;

■ Mobile drive systems;

■ PTO (power take-off) shafts that rotate;

■ Swiftly moving blades, flails, or other machine-ejected attachments.

Other risks created by mowing work include:

■ interaction with moving elements during obstruction clearance;

■ becoming stuck or crushed during the transition between the work and transport positions of the mower

Control measures

It is exceedingly unsafe to perform maintenance on a running equipment. Use the “safe stop” approach as the most crucial safety precaution

■ being crushed beneath an elevated machine while replacing blades or performing other maintenance duties;

■ being struck by the tractor and mower or run over by them;

■ falls over when operating on hills or banks; and

■ being impacted by trash or objects ejected by a machine.

Prior to doing any maintenance or changes, including addressing a blockage or other issue:

■ Handbrake on.

■ Controls neutral.

■ Stop engine.

■ Remove key.

Always allow ample time for blades and cutting mechanisms to cool down before approaching or operating on the machine.

Everyone who works for you must be trained in safety procedures. You must offer personnel with clear instructions, information, and proper training on:

■ the dangers they could face;

■ there are steps in place to manage the hazards;

■ How to adhere to all emergency protocols.

It is crucial to address the training requirements and supervision of:

■ New recruits and trainees, including adolescents who are more susceptible to mishaps;

■ Lone labourers;

■ Individuals changing jobs or assuming new duties;

■ Health and safety representatives, who are governed by certain laws.

Guarding

■ From the power take-off on the tractor to the power input connection on the mower, the entire length of the power take-off shaft must be protected by a guard.

■ Guards should avoid contact with any potentially hazardous machine component during operation. The stand-off guards must be correctly fastened and positioned front and back to prevent blade contact.

■ Before beginning work, ensure that all safeguards are in place, properly installed, and secure. Do not continue working with missing or damaged guards.

■ Ensure that the protective skirt or other device used to prevent the ejection of items or debris is in place and in excellent shape.

■ Note that additional components of the mower, such as conditioners, must be protected to the same degree as the remainder of the mower.

General guidance on safe working practice

■ Ensure that all individuals who operate a mower have received proper instructions and training. Local training providers, agricultural universities, and machinery dealers and suppliers may offer suitable training programmes.

■ Observe the precautions and directions specified in the operator’s manual.

■ Do not run a mower if there are witnesses who could be struck by broken blades or flying debris (these may travel considerable distances).

■ Stop working if you spot someone approaching you while you are mowing.

■ Use caution when working on steep terrain, especially when turning, and when operating mounted mowers.

■ Be mindful of potential obstructions; avoiding them is easier than removing them.

Maintenance

■ Follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions for blades and flails.

■ Verify that replacement components adhere to the manufacturer’s standards.

■ Always use a specialised prop or stand while performing maintenance work beneath a mower. Do not rely solely on the hydraulics of the tractor.

■ Even when working beneath a supported machine, hefty components may require additional support.

■ Changing blades and performing comparable maintenance may need the use of protective gloves.

Brush Cutters

Hazards

• Contact with moving blade
• Exhaust fumes
• Ignition of fuel
• Trainee and newly qualified operators
• Wet, slippery or unstable ground
• Flying debris
• Manual handling
• Noise
• Vibration

Precautions

• Operators should adhere to manufacturers’ instructions about the required level of PPE to be worn.
• When operating brush cutters/strimmers, snug-fitting clothing must be worn and long hair must be secured.
• Safety features must be inspected before beginning.
• The engine must be shut down and allowed to cool prior to any maintenance or refilling.
• Machinery must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines by a qualified individual, serviced at regular intervals, and inspected before each use.
• records kept.
• Operators should not cut in close proximity to things that could damage the cutting head, such as wire fences.
• Brush cutters / strimmers require two hands to operate.
• Signs should be posted at work or site entrances to alert the public of the dangers, or a lookout should be erected if public access is anticipated.
• Gloves must be worn when cleaning the blade guard in order to reduce the danger of tetanus and personal injury.
• Strimmer never to be left unattended.
• Consider the average populace.
• Cease trimming if members of the public approach the work site.
• Permit the machine to cool prior to refuelling. Place the refuelling station at least 30 metres away from the work area and ignition sources.
• Use safety glasses when filling containers unless non-spill nozzles are installed.
• Avoid working in restricted places. Conform to manufacturer instructions.
• Ensure exhaust system is visible and away from the operator.
• Machines should not be operated indoors to avoid noise and exhaust fume accumulation.
• New operatives must be overseen by a qualified operator until they are competent, and their training must be documented.
• Frequent refresher training should be provided – every three years (for infrequent users) and every five years (for weekly users). Or according to certification.
• No child or adult with special educational needs (SEN) should operate machinery.
• Brush cutters and strimmers should not be used on steep slopes where solid footing cannot be maintained. Do not operate uneven ground
• where footing could be impaired or where conditions would make escape difficult.
• Brush cutters/strimmers must not be used when there are severe winds or heavy rain.
• Brush cutters and strimmers will not be used if anyone is within a 15-meter radius.
• Ensure the use of PPE and the maintenance of safe working distances. Remove debris from escape routes in all directions.
• Close and place lookouts along walkways while falling on or near footpaths. Install safety signage at all public locations.
• Before work can begin, the ground must be cleansed of garbage such as bottles and cans and inspected for dog faeces.
• Visual inspection of the region for stones, raised manhole covers, and ancient posts, etc.
• Visually inspect the area for surface-laid or shallow services prior to mowing the grass. Any exposed cables must be reported immediately to the proper company.
• Strimming should be carried with the back facing traffic when it is safe to do so.
• Offer carrying aids for equipment conveyance to the site.
• Ensure that all team members are aware of safe lifting techniques and assist one another when lifting large logs. Use log tongs and pulp hooks for larger things.
• Earplugs must be worn at all times by the operator.
• Those personnel authorised to be within 10 metres of the chainsaw operator must wear ear protection. See HSE recommendations below.
• Take a 10-minute pause after each gasoline tank and a 30-minute rest after every third fuel tank.
• Consider arm-vibration limits.
• Adjust harness and grips for user comfort prior to beginning work.
• Operators should be made aware of the health concerns associated with HAVS and should promptly report any numbness to the Trust.
• Work rotation by only trained personnel.
• The brush cutter should only be used for:
• Standard brush cutters – 2 hours per day of operation.
• Professional-grade brush cutter with a daily operating time of 3.5 hours.
• Ensuring equipment is maintained according to manufacturer’s guidelines and records are retained

Chainsaw

Hazards

• Interaction with chain
• Impact with Repercussions
• Descending trees and debris
• Combustion of fuel
• Felling and chopping activities (including dangling trees).
• Flying debris
• Manual Handling
• Noise and Vibration
• Wet, slippery or unstable ground
• Spillage causing explosion, fire, or environmental contamination
• Spillages resulting in inhalation of fumes, physical touch, or ignition and explosion.

Precautions

• Only qualified and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust-approved personnel and registered volunteers are permitted to use chainsaws on Trust reserves.
• Users must operate within their skill levels and in accordance with their training and the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Full and compliant PPE MUST be worn
• Permit the machine to cool prior to refuelling. Place the refuelling station at least 30 metres away from the work area and ignition sources.
• Use safety glasses when filling containers unless non-spill nozzles are installed.
• Use safe sawing practises in accordance with training and periodic refresher training.
• Do a thorough analysis of the weight distribution in the tree’s crown, the expected direction of the tree’s fall, and any potential areas of stress or compression. Clear escape routes prior to a tree falling. Maintain safe distances of 2.5 times the diameter of the tree being felled
• length or 5 metres if cutting across. Only the operator will work in hazardous locations, accompanied by a spotter. Ensure that all team members are aware of how to approach the operator; these instructions should be included in the “task talk.” Inspect the working space before beginning work, and avoid working beneath cables.
• No chainsaw part may be used above shoulder height.
• Ensure the use of PPE and the maintenance of safe working distances. Remove debris from escape routes in all directions.
• Close and place lookouts along walkways while falling on or near footpaths. Install safety signs at all public locations.
• Supply carrying aids for transporting equipment to the job site. Ensure that all team members are aware of safe lifting techniques and collaborate when lifting large logs. Use log tongs and pulp hooks for larger things.
• Those personnel authorised to be within 10 metres of the chainsaw operator must wear ear protection. See HSE recommendations below.
• Take a 10-minute pause after each gasoline tank and a 30-minute rest after every third fuel tank.
• Consider arm-vibration limits.
• Chainsaw usage should be restricted to
• Standard chainsaws – 2 hours per day of operation
• Professional-grade saws have a daily operating time of 3.5 hours.
• Ensuring equipment is maintained according to manufacturer’s guidelines and records are retained
• Do not operate a chainsaw on slopes or uneven terrain where your footing could be affected or in conditions that would hinder your ability to flee.
• Never refuel while the engine is operating. Fuel containers must be labelled with their contents. Keep the container at least two tree lengths away from the felling area and away from fire sources and sunshine. Observe COSHH assessment. Gasoline must not be left unattended. Fuel must be stored properly, and a fire extinguisher and spill kit must be readily available. Use a fuel container with an automatic fuel shutoff to prevent spills and overfilling. Immediate cleanup of all spills, especially those on clothing. In sensitive areas, use only bio-chain oil
• The saw must be housed in a saw box and a secure storage space. Fuel/oil to be stored in fume cabinet. Restrict the amount of stored fuel at all times. Warning signs must be displayed.

Construction machinery

Gear, belts, chain drives, sprockets, and spinning components are common pinch and nip point hazards in construction equipment.

Due to the spinning mixing drum or rotating paddles within the drum, portable cement mixers can be hazardous. It is possible for a body part to become entangled between the rotating drum and a stationary component of the mixer.

Electrical power can also be a potential hazard

Recommended Safe Practices Prior to Use

• Observe the working circumstances. The operator shall not be able to slip, trip, or fall into the mixer due to debris and impediments in the work area. To avoid tipping, rolling, or falling, the cement mixer should be placed on a flat, level surface. Do not use in moist areas.
• Dress appropriately. Avoid wearing loose clothing and jewellery, as they can become entangled in moving parts. Use appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and a hair covering to keep long hair under control.
• Look for signs of wear and deterioration. Before utilising the mixer, ensure that it will function properly. Before to use, any damaged or missing components must be repaired or replaced.
• Ensure that sufficient machine guarding is in place and that the power lead is in good condition. Existing Ground Fault
• Circuit Interrupter protection while using an electric powered mixer outdoors or in moist environments to reduce shock/fire hazards. If the cement mixer is not in proper operating order, do not use it.
• With gas-powered mixers, the engine must always be turned off before refuelling. Be mindful of hot exhaust and avoid using gas-powered mixers indoors, since carbon monoxide can build up and create a breathing hazard.

Recommended Safe Practices during Use

• Before turning on the cement mixer, ensure that all tools and other equipment have been removed.
• The cement mixer should be revolving when being filled or emptied.
• Do not overfill the mixer. An overload may cause mixer damage.
• Never allow the mixer to run unattended.
• Do not move the cement mixer while it is in use. It is possible for the mixer to topple over, or the engine to become damaged.
• Before transferring the mixer, unhook the power lead or turn off the engine, and empty the drum of all material.
• Maintain safeguards during operation.
• Only use accessories that the manufacturer recommends..
• Before servicing, modifying, or installing accessories or attachments, disconnect the mixer’s power source or shut off the engine and set the switch in the locked or off position. These precautionary safety precautions decrease the possibility of inadvertently starting the cement mixer.
• Follow environmental pollution control procedures by washing the mixer in a specified location where concrete and rinse water can be retained to prevent their contamination of storm drains and surface water.

Bench mounted circular saw

The following are the most serious dangers linked with circular saw operations:

• Entanglement due to blade contact
• Contact or impact due to shoddy equipment
• Noise
• Dust
• Slips, trips & falls
• Contact or contact resulting from sudden motion (during maintenance, cleaning & repairs)

Precautions

• Installing adjustable hood guards large enough to cover the blades on all benches to avoid blade contact and access underneath the machine table.
• Push sticks assigned to each machine (at least 300 mm long and pointed to grip the work piece).
• Attach a steel riving knife to each circular saw.
• Knives are securely fixed, have a smooth surface, a slanted leading edge, and a saw-blade-like curve.
• Expansion tables and roller stands on the infeed and output sides of the machine to support larger work pieces
• Equipment properly maintained.
• Marking tools that rotate at their full speed.
• Every woodworking equipment must be equipped with a brake mechanism.
• Where possible, retrofit older equipment with a brake device.
• Separate saws to reduce the risk of timber striking a person.
• Lower noise levels by isolating devices and putting them with noise barriers.
• Monitor noise levels.
• Always use hearing protection
• Dust extraction equipment to decrease dust in the breathing zone of the operator.
• Use of respiratory protection.
• Vision protection.
• Regular housekeeping.
• Clear zone surrounding saws of slip and trip hazards
• Lockout/tagout all power sources before doing maintenance, cleaning, or repairs.
• Assure regular maintenance and testing in compliance with the standards of the original manufacturer. 

9.4 Control measures for machinery

Risk control of mechanical hazards

Separation is a basic and effective risk control for machinery and equipment that can be performed through distance, barrier, or time.

• Due of the disparity in distance, a person cannot access the hazard.
• Barrier separation implies that an effective barrier or guard prevents entry and regulates the ejection of components, products, or waste.
• Temporal separation implies that the machinery and/or equipment is disabled at the time of access.

Examples of separation include:

• Physical barriers and guards, such as fences, screens, and material-specific fixed panels
• Many forms of protection and interlocking
• preventing the hazard from being reached (where the distance between a person and the hazard forms an effective barrier).

Guarding

A guard can undertake a variety of duties, such as:

• preventing physical access
• containing discarded components, tools, off-cuts, or swath
• preventing pollutants leaking
• constituting a component of a safe working environment.

Guarding is widely used to block access to the following on machinery and equipment:

• End drums of belt conveyors that rotate
• augers of auger conveyors that rotate
• revolving shafts
• Not-regularly-adjustable moving parts
• Transmissions of machines, include pulley and belt drives, chain drives, and exposed drive gears
• any potentially hazardous moving parts, gear, or equipment.

When no access is anticipated, a fixed guard can be permanently installed using a bonding agent, welding, or one-way screws. If access is not generally required, the ideal solution is a permanent barrier.

Where access to the danger is infrequent, the installation of a fitted guard that can be removed with a tool may be an acceptable control, even if the tool required to remove the barrier or guard is not typically accessible to the operator.

Adjustable guarding allows material or parts to be fed into the guarded area while preventing physical touch.

Tunnel guards provide a tunnel, aperture, or chute via which material can be introduced into machinery and equipment; but, due to the opening’s limiting design and depth, fingers, hands, arms, or the full body are prevented from entering the hazardous region..

Where regular cleaning is required, the guard may be made of mesh that inhibits body part entrance but permits hosing. The terminal rollers of conveyors used in areas of food manufacturing where cleanliness or food safety are vital to the operation are guarded with fixed mesh.

Interlock guarding occurs when the act of moving the guard to provide access (opening, sliding, or removing) pauses the activity of the hazardous device.

Interlock guarding works by:

• Mechanically detaching the driving mechanism (e.g. applying a brake or disengaging a clutch or geared mechanism)
• separating the power source from the mechanism’s drive (e.g. stopping the motor)
• a mix of electricity and mechanical disconnection.

Captive key systems utilise a single key that is shared between the control panel (‘on’ switch) and the physical barrier’s entry gate lock. The key can only be removed from the control panel when the switch is in the “off” position, and the gate will only unlock when the key has been removed.

Captive key systems do not completely isolate the power supply, but they may give limited temporary access under regulated situations.

Administrative controls, such as appropriate supervision, education, and training, are essential to guarantee that only one key is available for the system and that a second operator does not remove the key from the access gate or guard while a person is exposed to the danger zone of the plant. Activities such as maintenance, repair, installation servicing, and cleaning may necessitate isolating and locking out all energy sources to prevent inadvertent startup.

Other mechanical hazard risk control options

Simultaneous two-handed operation

When there is only one person operating a machine, the usage of two-handed operation buttons can act as a risk control. This ensures that the dangerous mechanism cannot be activated until both hands are removed from the danger zone.

The two buttons must be pressed simultaneously and are separated by a distance that hinders simultaneous operation with one hand.

The operation should be constructed so that if one or both buttons are released, the hazardous action of the machinery and/or equipment cannot be reached, or if it can, the system returns to a safe state.

Presence sensing systems

If physical guards cannot be deployed to mitigate risk, a presence detection system can be used as an alternative. People can employ presence detecting devices in situations where moving production equipment is present.

Regarding access, presence sensing systems are capable of providing a great deal of flexibility.

At the time of entry, presence sensing systems stop or limit the power or speed of the mechanism in order to provide safe access.

Foot pressure pads, infrared sensors, light beams, and laser scanning can be utilised by presence sensing systems. The optimal sort of sensing device will be determined by the operational environment and required access.

Critical safety systems

A critical safety system is a safety control system that ensures a person’s safety when approaching or approaching a hazard.

If the crucial safety system fails, a person will be exposed to the hazard and in risk. Integrated complicated interlocking and presence sensing systems may be a part of critical safety systems. The failure to replace guards, damaged perimeter fences that allow entry, and bypassed or disabled interlocking systems are instances of significant safety system failures requiring rapid care to ensure the safety of individuals.

High integrity/fail-safe control

All safety control systems should be planned and constructed to prevent failure or, in the event of failure, to deactivate the machinery and equipment’s operation.

Numerous types of machinery and equipment employ safety mechanisms with high integrity that disable a mechanism upon entry. Such instances include:

• brake press
• power press
• robotic machine (automated machines)
• injection moulders
• powered guillotines
• programmable lathe and milling equipment
• industrial mixers
• mincing equipment
• plasma cutting tables
• laser cutting tables.

Risk control of non-mechanical hazards

The first step in identifying appropriate and effective controls for non-mechanical hazards is to comprehend the nature of emissions that may be emitted by machinery and equipment in the workplace, where these emissions may accumulate, and how they may cause harm.

• When the emission cannot be controlled at the source by elimination or substitution, it is required to isolate people from non-mechanical risks. Controls on the emission of hazardous machinery and equipment rely heavily on isolating people from the hazardous emission. A variety of various types of emissions can be contained within machinery and/or equipment by means of hoods, lids, coverings, and impermeable guards (solid barriers that impede emission escape). Ventilation and extraction systems are utilised to eliminate potentially hazardous substance exposures from machinery and equipment, such as mist, fumes, vapour, and dust, when the emission cannot be controlled at its source.
• Through the use of sound-absorbing materials, protection can also serve to muffle noise emissions. Other emissions, such as lasers, ultraviolet radiation, bright light, and welding flashes, can also be screened to minimise exposure to potentially dangerous levels.
• Leaks of oil from machinery and/or equipment may pose a significant slipping danger. By preventing oil leaks through normal maintenance or by limiting oil leaks with a drop tray or through spill containment measures, the risk posed by the hazard is mitigated.

Personal protective equipment

When it is not practicable to regulate emissions at their source or remove or diminish them by appropriate ventilation, extraction, or diversion, personal protective equipment must be used.

As a last safety step, (PPE) must be considered.

PPE is a lower-order control that can only be employed in situations where higher-order controls are impossible or ineffective.

There are numerous varieties of PPE that lower the risk of injury from contact with or exposure to a hazard, therefore their selection and use must be deliberate.

The improper usage of PPE or the purchase of unsuitable PPE can contribute to serious workplace mishaps.

Uncomfortable, restricted, or heavy PPE may cause secondary hazards, necessitating regular supervision to ensure that it is utilised appropriately.

References

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg291.pdf

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3080.pdf

https://nobelcert.com/DataFiles/FreeUpload/BS%20EN%20ISO%2012100-2010.pdf

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais25.pdf

http://www.wwcv.co.uk/Downloads/WWT%20Common%20Hazards.pdf

https://ucanr.edu/sites/safety/files/1390.pdf

https://www.technicaljournalsonline.com/ijaers/VOL%20IV/IJAERS%20VOL%20IV%20ISSUE%20III%20APRIL%20JUNE%202015/635.pdf

https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/20306/guidetomachinery-equipmentsafety.pdf