THE PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998(PUWER)
The Regulations, together with three ACoPs and guidance (covering respectively work equipment, woodworking machinery and power presses) have replaced the earlier industry or process-specific laws on training including that relating to the use of abrasive wheels.
PUWER 98 should not be considered in isolation.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (the Management Regulations), reg 3(1) requires a risk assessment to be carried in order to identify the measures that should be taken to comply with relevant legislation.
This should ensure, for example, the selection of suitable work equipment under PUWER 98 reg 4 and the identification of the control measures necessary to prevent access to dangerous parts under reg 11 for older machinery.
No duties are placed on employees by PUWER 98. However, the requirements of the Management Regulations reg 12 that employees should, inter-alia, use all work items provided by their employer correctly is relevant. These requirements are in addition to HSW Act s7.
HSE Contract Research Report 232/99 Hand-transmitted vibration: occupational exposures and their health effects in Great Britain reports that:
- Nearly 5 million people are exposed to hand-transmitted vibration in a one-week period;
- More than 1.2 million of these exposed in excess of HSE action level;
- Nearly 800,000 people showed symptoms of vibration white finger (VWF) of these about 20,000 with advanced disability; and
- Hand-held power tools are a major source of vibration exposure, which can lead to hand-arm vibration (HAV) injury.
In comparison to many other industrial diseases, HAVS has relatively rapid onset, typically ten years, and so this campaign has potential to make an impact on the incidence of work-related ill health within a relatively short time frame.
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