Regulation 4 PUWER 98 Regulation 4(1) and (2) 88 The CDM Regulations require the appointment of a single person or firm (‘the principal contractor’) to co-ordinate health and safety matters on site. The principal contractor also has a duty to ensure that all contractors ¢o- operate on health and safety matters. Where the use of equipment by a wide range of personnel from s number of different employers requires particular ‘auention oF co-ordination, this should be addressed in the construction phase health and safety plan. Co-operation and exchanging information is vital when ‘equipment is shared. All users need to know: (a) wh is responsible for the co-ordination of the equipment; (b) that changes in conditions of use need to be reported to that person; (©) whether there are any limitations on the use of the equipment; and (@)_ how the equipment can be used safely. Application to the offshore industry 89 PUWER places duties on employers and the self-employed; offshore this includes owners, operators and contractors. Their duties cover both their owa employees and, as people having control of work equipment, other workers who may be affected. Meeting these duties where a number of employers and their employees are involved requires co-operation and co-ordination of activities. The person in control of an operation should ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to ensure that work equipment provided for use at work is suitable, properly used and maintained, etc. This will often be an installation owner or operator, for example, but contractors who tke equipment offshore are primarily responsible for risks arising from that equipment, 90 Legal requirements for co-operation between offshore duty holders are set out in the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 1992 and the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995. 91 Equipment for use on offshore installations that is safety-critical, as, defined by regulation 2(1) of the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 1992, will be subject 10 the verification arrangements required elsewhere in those Regulations. PART 0: GENERAL Suitability of work equipment G1) Every employer shall ensure that qwork equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided. (2) In selecting coork equipinent, every employer shall have regard io the working conditions and to the rishs to the health and safety of persons cohic exist in the premises or undertaking in which that coork equipment és to be used and any additional risk posed by the use of that work equipment, 19Freel ACOP Regulation 4(1) and @2) Cer aoe) How risk assessment and the Management Regulations link with PUWER 98, 92. This Regulation deals with the salery of work equipment from three aspects: (a) its initial integritys (b) the place where it will be used; and (e) the purpose for which it will be used. 193. The selection of suitable work equipment for particular tasks and processes makes it posible fo reduce or eliminate many risks to the health and Enfery of people at the workplace. This applies both ro the normal use of the fequipment as well as to other operations such as maintenance, 94 The tisk assessment carried out under regulation 3(1) of the Management Regulations will help to select work equipment and assess its suitability for particular tasks. 95 Most dutyholders wil be capable of making the risk assessment themselves using expertise within their own organisations to identify the measures which need to be taken regarding their work equipment. In a few vhees, for example where there ace complex hazards or equipment it may need te be done in conjunction with the help of external health and safety advisers, appointed under regulation 6 of the Management Regulations 96 For many items of work equipment, particularly machinery, you will row irom experience what measures need (0 be taken to comply with previous legal requirements. Generally these measures will ensure compliance eR PUWER 98. Where this is not the case, there is usually a straightforward nethod of idendfying the measures that need to be taken, because these are Teseribed in either general guidance or guidance specific wo a particular industry of piece of equipment. However, the user will need to decide whether these are appropriate. 97 Where guidance does not exist, or is not appropriate, the main fectors that need to be taken into account are the severity of any likely injury ot ill tealth likely to result from any hazard present the likelihood oF that happening dnd the numbers of people exposed. You can then identify the measures that need to be taken to climinate or reduce the risk to an acceptable level 98. Further guidance on risk assessment is 10 be found in the ACOP on Mangement Regulations (see paragraph 24) whieh includes advice on the siection of preventive and protective measures and HISE's free leaflet entitled 5 steps 10 risk assessinent! Ergonomics 99. One of the factors to be considered is ergonomics. 100 When selecting work equipment, employers should take account off ergonomic risks. Lot Ergonomic design takes account of the size and shape of the human body dnd should ensuze that the design is compatible with human dimensions. Gpesiting positions, working heights, reach distances, ete can be adapted to aeeommadate the intended operator. Operation of tke equipment should not 20Chitinase eemOk AcOP, Regulation 4(1) and (2) place undue strain on the user. Operators should not be expected to exert undue force or stretch or reach beyond their normal strength or physical reach limitations to carry out tasks. This is particularly important for highly repetitive work such as working on supermarket checkouts or high speed ‘pick and place” operations. 102. Risks could arise as a result of using mobile work equipment, for which the measures in Part IIT are relevant. However, for existing equipment (that which was in use before 5 December 1998) the requirements in Part Il do not come into force until 5 December 2002. Therefore, until this date, you do not need to comply with Part III when considering the selection of suitable mobile work equipment. However, where the risks are significant, you may wish to select alternative equipment anyway. Regulation 4(1) 103. Equipment must be suitable, by design, construction ot adaptation, for the actual work it is provided to do. This means in practice that when you provide work equipment you should ensure that itis suitable for the work to be undertaken and that it is used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and instructions. If work equipment is adapted it must still be suitable for its intended purpose. 104 ‘This requirement provides the focal point for the other Regulations - for example, compliance with regulation 10 should ensure the initial integrity of equipment in many cases, and compliance as appropriate with the specific requirements of regulations 11 to 24. Regulation 4@2) 105 This requires you to assess the location in which the work equipment is to be used and to teke account of any risks that may arise from the particular circumstances. Such factors can invalidate the use of work equipment in a particular place. For example, electrically powered equipment is not suitable for use in wet or flammable atmospheres unless it is designed for this purpose. In such circumstances you should consider selecting suitably protected electrical equipment or alternative pneumatically or hydraulically powered equipment. 106 You should ensure that work equipment is installed, located and used in such a way as ta reduce risks to users af work equipment and for other workers, such as ensuring that there is suificient space between the moving paris of work equipment and fixed or moving parts in its environment.) 107 When determining the suitability of work equipment, you should ensure that where appropriate: (@) all forms of energy used or produced; and (b) all substances used or produced can be supplied and/or removed in a safe manner.(¥) (hy) This implomons point 1.1 of Armes Il of AUWED: ‘Work equiprment must be installed, located end yerad ia stich @ way’ as to reduee risks to users of the work equipment and for other workers, for example by ensuring thet there is suficient ‘Space between ihe moving parts of work equipment and freed ar moving parts in its Suoironment and diat all jarme of energy and substartces used o produced can be Supplied andlor removed in a saje maner” 2Preventing overload 122 Where there is a significant risk of overtuming and/or overloading arising from the use of the equipment it should be provided where appropriate with ‘equipment or devices such as rated capacity indicators and rated capacity limiters. Such devices provide audible and/or visual warning when the safe lifting limits are being approached. See further guidance under regulation 7(b). Regulation 4(b) 123. Timber pallets are examples of items which may be part of a load (if for example, they are banded together). These must be of adequate strength for the particular load and lifting operation. Further information on the safe use of timber pallets is included in HSE Guidance Note Safety in the use of timber pallets. 124 Any points provided on the load to assist in lifting it are part of the load and not part of the lifting equipment, though there are exceptions such as the use of eyebolts which screw into the load. However, you should take steps to ensure that any such lifting points are of adequate strength for the task based fon an assessment of the risks associeted wich a particular lifting operation. Examples of lifting points include lugs that are welded on to a stec! beara before itis lifted and removed afterwards and permanent fittings such as those on 2 skip which may be lifted frequently. 125. In some circumstances where the risks justify it, you will need to arrange to test the strength of the lifting points to ensure that they are suitable for a lifting operation. his is particularly important in circumstances where lifting points are produced by welding lugs onto a loed to allow a lifting operation to be carried out. 126 You should not normally lift loads by banding, straps or wrappings which have been provided primarily to keep the load intact unless they are designed for this purpose. Examples include boxes and cartons secured together. Such items are rarely strong enough to provide lifting points. Even if such loads are supported as they arc lifted, eg on the forks of a foriclift track or in a net attached to crane hhook, you should check that the banding etc will withstand expected stresses arising from hoisting and swinging the load. When using eyebolts you should not use them if they are distorted or have damaged threads and when using flexible bulk containers you should not use them if the suspension loops are damaged. Lifting equipment used for lifting persons (1) Bvory employer shall ensure that lifting equipment for lifting persons ~ (a) subject to sub-paragraph (6), is such as to prevent a person using it being enushed, trapped or struck or falling from the carver; (®) is such as to prevent so far as is reasonably practicable a person using it, hile carying out activities from the carrier, being erushed, trapped or struck or falling from the carrier; (6) subject to paragraph (2), has suitable devices ro prevent the risk of @ carver falling, (@) is such that a person trapped in any carrier is not thereby exposed 10 danger and can be freed. 127 Whenever lifting equipment is used for lifting persons the requirements of regulation 5(1) apply aver and above requirements detailed in regulation 4 aYLER & (suitability), regulation 6 (positioning and installation), regulation 7 (marking) and the requirements of the other regulations in LOLER. 128 The raising and lowering of people by work equipment which is not specifically designed for the purposes should only be undertaken in exceptional circumstances, when it is not practicable to gain access by less hazardous means. Where it is necessary to use such work equipment then you should ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to ensure safety, including appropriate supervision.” 129. Examples of lifting machinery which is not specifically designed for lifting people but which could be used if the necessary precautions are taken include a forklift truck, a telescopic handler and a crane (fixed or mobile). 130 Although equipment such as fork-lift trucks, telescopic handlers and cranes are primarily designed for the purpose of handling macerials, when fireed with a suitably designed carrier or worlking platform they can provide a safer alternative co other means of access (such as a ladder), You should recognise, however, that such an arrangement will not provide the same level of safety as purpose-built equipment such as a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP). Where it is reasonably practicable to obtain and use purpose-built ‘equipment for lifting people, particularly for regular and/or routine operations, then you should use such equipment. 131. [fequipment such as a fork for lifting people then you must t ft truck, telescopic handler or crane is used e adequate precautions. ‘Lift ruck 132. People should never be lifted on the fork arms or a pallet balanced on the fork arms of a lift truck because they can easily fall off. You should use @ properly maintained purpose-built working platform with suitable edge protection and toe boards. When loaded with people, tools and materials it should be compatible with the lift track on which it is fitted to ensure security and stability in use. It should be effectively secured to the truck’s elevating carriage or fork to prevent it being displaced or tipping unduly. Persons carried on a platform should be prevented from reaching any dangerous parts (eg the chains of truck) by effective screens or guards. They should also be protected against any overhead hazards that might exist (eg from coming into contact with rafters in the ceiling). ‘Telescopic handler 133. Telescopic handlers are a specific type of forlclift truck. ‘They should never bbe used to lift people unless @ suitable working placform is used. You should use a working platform of safe design, made of sound and suitable material, of adequate strength and ensure that itis properly maintained. Ie should be effectively secured to the forks. In order to prevent inadvertent operation, the operator should scotch or lock out the tit mechanism when the equipment is to be used with a working platform. Suitable means of communication berween the operator and placform should be provided (manusl signals may be sufficient in many circumstances). * Nore: paragraph 128 implements polne 3.1.2 of Annex Il of AUWED Persons may be lifted by only means of work equipment and accessories provided for this purpose, Without prejudice to Article $ of Dizective §9/391/EEC, exceptionally, work equipment whieh 's not specifically designed for te purpose of liting persons may be used to this effec, provided sppropriate action has been taken to ensure safety in accordance with national legislation and/or practice laying dewn appropriate supervision,Cranes 134 The crane used should be adequate and suitable for the task, have @ free- {fall capability lock-out and should be used equipped with appropriate devices such as a hoisting limiter, lowering limiter, rated capacity indicator and rated capacity limiter. ‘The carrier should be adequately attached to the crane (eg by fa shackle or a hook with a latch). The crane and carrier should be inspected every day by a competent person. The crane and associated equipment should be suitably derated and the crane should be operated ia accordance with the recommendations in BS 7121. 135 If lifting equipment is not marked to indicate that it can be used to lift people it should only be used if a risk assessment has confirmed it can be used safely and adequate precautions are taken, It should then be appropriately marked to indicate that ic is for lifting people and the number of people it ean lift safely 136 The term ‘carrier’ is a generic term used to describe the device which supports people while being lifted or lowered. It includes the following: (a) the car of a passenger lifts (b) the cage of a construction site hoist; (© a platform on a mobile elevating work platform (MEW?); (@_ a cradle suspended from the hook block of a cranes (©) a bosun’s chairs and () the hamess used by an arborist. Regulation 5(1)(a) 137 Regulation 5(1)(a) applies to carriers such as a lift car. 138 Any person in such a car should be suitably protected from being injured by something outside of it. To achieve this the car should normally be fully enclosed when in use. 139. You should take appropriate precautions to prevent someone entering or leaving the car being struck by it. There should be a suitable enclosure around the car and, where necessary, appropriate protective devices to prevent access to the danger zone. 140. Any door or gate which is necessary in order to gain access or egress to/from the car should open so as to prevent any person falling accidentally from the car. 141 Any motorised doors fitted ro a lift car should be fitted with a suitable device to prevent the user being crushed by them when entering or leaving. Lift cars should be firted with full-length doors so designed and installed that the car cannot move unless the doors are closed and comes to a halt if the doors are opened. The doors of the car must remain closed and interlocked if the lift stops benween wo levels. 142. The doors of the hoistway should also be of solid construction with smooth interior surfaces. In addition, the doors and the hoistway opposite the open side of a carrier without internal doors should, throughout its height of travel, be smooth and flush with each other, 23Regulation 5(1) (b) 143 Regulation 5(1)(b) deals with persons working from carriers which are not fully enclosed. 144 Where a person in such a carrier might fall 2 m or more, the carrier should be fitced with suitable edge protection, This should also be provided where a person might fall less than 2 m where there are factors that would increase the likelihood of a fall or the risk of serious injury. 445 Any edge protection on the carrier should be suitable for the purposes for which it is to be used and it should be securely fixed to the carrier. 146 The floor area of any carrier on which persons need to be present should be stip-resistant. 147 As part of the risk assessment carried out to satisly your duties under the Management Regulations, you should assess the risks arising from other work equipment, structures or objects which the persons being lifted may strike, Fully enclosed carriers and falling object protection on carriers can reduce the risks in such circumstances. They should be usec wherever there is a need provided thac it is reasonably practicable 10 do so, taking into account the nature of the work involved. 148. Where this is not practical, eg when working from a MEWP, suitable alternative precautions are needed. Depending on the type of lifting equipment that is used, the risk assessment will identify the precautions that are needed. Examples include a 2 m high enclosure around a construction site hoist and hold-to-run controls. 149. The carrier (such as a cage or basket) should be of a safe design, made of sound and suitable material and of adequate strength. If access doors are fitted to the cartier.they should nor open outwards and should be freed with a device to prevent inadvertent opening, 150. Some of the measures required to prevent people being crushed or struck by the lifting equipment, eg high fencing, may also help prevent the user falling from the carrier and therefore achieve compliance with this regulation. However, where the risk cannot be adequately controlled by these measures further steps may be necessary, for example you may need to use safety harnesses with lanyards attached 10 designated anchor points. Regulation 5(1)(c) 151. Life cars must have devices to prevent free-fall which should be independent of the means of suspension of the car. 152 Where practicable, other carriers should be fitted with suitable devices or other effective measures taken, to prevent the carrier falling in the event of failure of the primary means of support. For example: (@) multiple ropes (with independent anchorages); (©) mukipte cylinders; (©) ropes, chains or hydraulic pipes with a high factor of safety; (@) safety gears and 24(©) check valves (for hydraulically powered systems). 153. In addition to the suitable devices mentioned above, further measures may be necessary to ensure safety with certain equipment such as a cradle lifted by a crane, These include: (2) derating the equipment; (b) daily inspections of the equipment by a competent person; and volved in 1% (©) providing adequate instruction and training for all persons the lifting operation (persons being lifted, operator of the lif equipment, supervisor etc). 154 You should position or install the lifting equipment to minimise the effects of a failure of the primary means of lifting (see regulation 6 for more details on position and installation). 155. The references to ‘site’, height differences’ and ‘enhanced coefficient suspension rope’ in regulation 5(2) refer solely to winding gear in mines (see paragraph 160). ‘Regulation 5(1)(d) 156 You should ensure that in the event of malfunction of the lifting equipment that persons being lifted are not exposed to danger and a reliable means of rescue is available. 157 Ifa person becomes trapped in a carrier they should be able to summon other people to their assistance. If other people are working nearby then a shout for help may be sufficient. In some circumstances a telephone or radio link within the carrier, or the fitting of an alarm bell or klaxon which can be used to summon help, might be needed. These devices should be regularly inspected by a competent person to ensure they continue to fanction properly. 158 An emergency means of lowering the carrier to a safe position may be appropriate to deal with a user who has become trapped or, where this is not possible, selfrescue equipment such as a rope ladder or an inertia reel system could be provided. There is a need to ensure that the use of such equipment does not make the carrier unstable thereby increasing the risk to the user. The ‘use of emergency lowering and self-rescue equipment may only be appropriate where potential users have received training in its use and are competent to (2) Every employer shall ensure that if the risk deseribed in paragraph (1)(6) cannot be provemted for reasons inherent in the site and heigh differences ~ (a) the carrier has an enhanced safety coefficient suspension rope or chains and () the rope or chain is inspected by a competent person every working day. 159 Equipment used for the lifting of people should have a safery coefficient relating to its strength of at Jeast wice that required for general lifting operations. This is the arithmetic ratio between the highest load guaranteed by the manufacturer that the lifting equipment or accessory is able to lift and the maximum working load marked on the equipment. 160 Suspension ropes and chains with an enhanced safety coefficient refer to 25Equipment for lifting people Brit ee Se eae Cea See CCe nC RRs Pesta aoa Pe rea ee eee Seen on ren a Personnel carriers See ee Dee nL Peer eect er associated operations for eras ReneS Se ae cca Ped 50 eT ci ci enn) ce 49Equipment for lifting people 30 Introduction 259 Before using cranes and other lifting ‘equipment to transfer people, you should consider alternative methods of doing this. Cranes Design and manufacture 260 Cranes which are suitable for lifting people should be clearly marked at the crane ‘operator's location ‘SUITABLE FOR LIFTING PEOPLE’ or ‘SUITABLE FOR MAN-RIDING’ and marked with the maximum number of people it can carry. Any crane that is not marked should not be used to lift people or for man-riding. Selecting suitable equipment 261 Cranes used for lifting people should be equipped with hoist brakes that can be operated mechanically under all load conditions, The brakes should be able to support the specified test overload for the equipment, 262 The brakes should be automatically applied when the drive is in the ‘OFF’ or ‘NEUTRAL position, and on failure of the power supply to the motor or control device. The braking operation should be progressive, to avoid any shock loading of the hoisting system. 263A second brake system should be provided for emergency use in case the normal braking system fails, For cranes this should be fitted to both load and boom hoist systems and be located as near to the hoist drums as possible, This brake should be strong enough to hold indefinitely the weight of the carrier/slings and the number of people carried. For hydraulic transmission system cranes, the braking effect of the hydraulic system itself would be considered as meeting the requirement for a secondary brake. 264 Clutches or other means of disengaging the drive train are prohibited for personnel- lifting operations. This is unless there isa fail- safe interface making it impossible to disengage the clutch when the drive train is in motion or when there is @ load on the hook. Free fall operation of load hoist or boom hoist systems is, dangerous and should be avoided. See paragraph 192 for information on emergency load release systems. Any speed-change gearbox should be of constant mesh type and designed so that itis not possible to change the gear ratio while the hoist system is carrying any Toad. 265. ‘The crane should be fitted with an emergency stop located for the operator to use. Itshould be protected against accidental use. Operating the emergency stop should arrest all ‘motions of the crane. In the event of failure to re-start the prime mover, it should be possible to recover the carrier by manual methods. Operation 266 Anyone being transported by crane needs to: remain in full view of the crane operator; and have all necessary personal safety ‘equipment. In addition, where people are transported over the sea, the requirements of the Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 (PFEER)" should be complied with, 267 ‘There are special recommendations for prime movers on cranes for mar-tiding ‘purposes - see paragraphs 172-173. Utility winches and winches used for lifting people Design and manufacture 268 All winches used for lifting people should be clearly marked ‘SUITABLE FOR LIFTING PEOPLE’ or ‘SUITABLE FOR MAN-RIDING’. Any winch that is not marked should not be used for lifting people.Selecting suitable equipment 269 The following criteria should be considered for all winches: The winch operating lever should automatically return to neutral when released. @ Automatic brakes should be fitted so that they apply whenever the operating lever returned to neutral or if there is loss of power to the drive or control system. 270. ‘The following criteria should also apply when winches are used for lifting people: Asecond independent brake should be provicied for use if the automatic brake fails. This brake should be manually operated unless it is completely independent of the automatic braking system, Devices should be incorporated in the winch system which prevent the personnel carrier from over-riding, under-riding and overspeeding. ‘The winch should have adequate capacity to handle the line load itemised below with one wrap of rope spooled on the drum @ the nominal weight of passengers; © the tare weight of the carrier; and © the rope weight and friction effects, Equipment for lifting people ‘The sum of these weights should include an adequate safety factor together with a dynamic factor approved by a competent person. The winch should be capable of lowering the carrier in a controlled manner in an emergency or if there is loss of power. Figure 12. Man-riding winch 51Equipment for lifting people 52 The brake holding capacity should be less than that generated by the minimum, braking load of the rope and greater than that generated by the maximum line forces, identified above. The rope should be automatically spooled onto the winch drum to prevent bunching. The design of the winch system should be confirmed by a hazard analysis and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) carried out by a competent person. The analysis should identify safety critical elements Which should undergo regular inspection, maintenance and function testing by the competent person(s), Operntion 271 When winches are used for lifting people, the written operating procedure should include: authority for use; ‘means of communication between the winch operator and passenger(s); safety arrangements; limiting conditions of use; and training, 272. The operating procedures should include an assessment made by a competent person to ensure that any uncontrolled ascent of the carrier is prevented under all circumstances. This assessment should include calculations to ensure that the weight of the rope is never greater (inclading an adequate safety factor) on the winch side of the sheave system than the minimum weight on the carrying side of the sheave system, 273. The following criteria also apply: Rope entanglement and undue wear should be prevented. The rope should remain captive at all times around sheaves and at the winch drum, "The drum should be guarded to protect the operator if the rope should fail. The guard should not prevent the operator from viewing the spooling of the rope. % The line pull of the winch should be set so that if there is inadvertent snagging, any over-pull will not injure passengers. In certain types of operation, a higher line pull may be required for emergency man- riding recovery, for example from a moon pool. In this case, an override should be provided to increase the capacity of the winch to carry the extra weight of people and equipment needed to perform emergency operations. It is preferred however if the line pull for this type of winch is permanently set to allow a work basket with two persons to be carried. 274. Clutches or other methods of disengaging the drive system are dangerous and must be avoided. Where winches are to be used to lift people, a supervisor should be able to see them atall times, The supervisor should remain in direct communication with the winch operator throughout the operation. Personnel transportation equipment Personnel carriers 275 This section deals with personnel carriers that comply with regulation 5(1) of LOLER. This requires cartiers to prevent people using it from being crushed, trapped, struck or falling, For carriers which do not comply with LOLER, guidance is given in the HSE Ofishore Safety Notice SN 10/80 (2001).2° Selecting suitable equipment 276 Yow or the competent person should ensure that carriers used for lifting people conform with the following: The carrier is provided with slip-resistant floors and adequate drainage. Items carried on the floor of the carrier are effectively secured. The primary load line has the requisite safety factor. Where secondary or backup lines are used, a risk assessment should