Procter Machine Safety has published the third edition of its popular free White Paper ‘The requirements for machinery guarding with respect to PUWER’ (the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998). While PUWER covers all work equipment, from scissors to CNC machine tools, this guide focuses on the often-misunderstood requirements relating to machine guards. It is available as a free download from Procter’s website.
Procter Machine Safety has published a new edition of its free White Paper that explains the PUWER requirements for machine guarding.
The White Paper begins by explaining when a PUWER inspection is required and what factors influence inspection intervals. It goes on to highlight the clauses in PUWER that relate to machine guarding, then introduces the Approved Code of Practice and guidance (ACOP) published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Importantly, the White Paper also discusses the question of standards and whether machine guards on existing machinery need to comply with the latest standards.
As well as machine guards, the White Paper describes other safeguarding measures that may need to be applied, such as protection devices, protection appliances and information, instruction, training and supervision.
A key section of the White Paper, ‘What to look for’, provides a wealth of hints and tips for inspecting machine guards. Another important section – and one that has been heavily revised for the third edition of the White Paper – explains the relationship between PUWER and UKCA/CE marking. Now the UK has left the EU, machines placed on the market in Great Britain must be UKCA marked using a process that is all but identical to CE marking, while machines placed on the market in the EU must still be CE marked.
DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED MACHINE GUARDING FOR PUWER WHITE PAPER
Towards the end of the White Paper there are lists of useful resources and further information, both of which have been updated for the third edition.
Thomas Shapland, Marketing Director of Procter Brothers, comments: “Anyone with responsibility for PUWER inspections or machine safety will find the PUWER White Paper very useful. It has been reviewed and updated by Steve Allen CMSE, who is one of the UK’s foremost machine guarding experts. If anyone reads the White Paper and is concerned that their machine guarding may be inadequate, our specialists can quickly assess the guards and advise whether improvements are required. If requested, we can design, manufacture and install PUWER-compliant guards that will not compromise productivity.”
To download a PDF copy of the updated White Paper ‘The requirements for machinery guarding with respect to PUWER’, go to https://www.machinesafety.co.uk/free-downloads/#208. Alternatively, contact Procter Machine Safety to discuss specific projects by emailing info@machinesafety.co.uk or telephone 02920 855758.