Construction Plant and Equipment Safety Checklist

Plant and Equipment (PUWER)

Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (UK)

Company’s should be committed to providing a safe place and safe systems of work. Since uncontrolled hazards associated with plant could have serious and even fatal consequences for  employees and others,  the maintenance of and adherence to a safe systems of work for controlling plant risks as a safety-critical element of its overall safety program.

No plant or equipment shall be operated without the relevant licence from the appropriate statutory authority, unless under the supervision of a competent authorized person using a current log book, or unless an appropriate internal assessment has been made and documented where no statutory licensing is required.

Sample plant safety checklist

1. A plant policy is in place
2. Management is committed to the objectives of the policy
3. Sufficient resources have been provided to ensure that the objectives of the policy are met
4. Staff at all levels are aware of, and understand, the policy
5. A purchasing specification is in place which requires designers and manufacturers to:

• – undertake risk management for plant which they design/manufacture
• – provide relevant information on health and safety related to the plant which they design/manufacture

1. The purchasing specification also requires suppliers to forward a copy of the designer’s/manufacturer’s risk management/health and safety information for the plant which they supply
2. A register of all plant used in the workplace has been compiled and is kept available for inspection by employees and their representatives
3. Procedures are in place to ensure the competence and, where appropriate, the qualification of people (including contractors) who undertake installation, modification and repairs to any plant related to workplace operations
4. A system for maintaining records for plant has been set up which includes information about registered designs and contains all information required to be kept in relation to registered plant
5. Training in the safe operating procedures for working on, or with, plant has been given to everyone who:

• – uses, or performs work on, any item of plant
• – undertakes risk management activities in relation to plant
• – issues permits to work
• – designs and lays out the workplace (including those who plan and implement modifications to any part of the workplace)
• – manages and/or supervises people working on plant (including any contractors)
• – maintains equipment used for, and during, the performance of tasks associated with plant
• – purchases, distributes, fits, wears and/or maintains personal protective equipment used to protect people from hazards associated with plant

1. The protocols for testing and maintaining plant have been agreed and incorporated into written procedures.
2. Relevant employees and their supervisors are regularly consulted on health and safety issues related to plant safety
3. Adequate protective equipment to safely undertake work on, or with, plant is provided, with written protocols for its inspection, maintenance and use.