Accidents at work using machinery

Accidents with machinery or mechanical lifting equipment UK. If you have suffered injury following an accident at work then you may wish to consider making a claim.

Here we discuss some aspects of the laws that protect workers in the course of their duties. This site is owned and managed by Winston Solicitors LLP who are a No win No fee specialist law firm

PUWER Regulations:

The legal duties for employers concerning the provision of machinery are covered by the Provision and Use of Work equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). These Regulations require that any equipment which is provided for use at work:

• Is suitable for its intended use
• Can be used safely in the workplace
• Is maintained in a good / safe condition
• Has been properly inspected
• Must only be used by operators who have received adequate information, instruction and training,
• All equipment must contain adequate safety markings or warnings as necessary.

Since July 2005 employers must also consider the implications of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. They are required to specifically assess the risks of vibration which may arise from the use of particular machinery and electrical hand tools.

NB: An employer must always carry out a risk assessment in the form of an investigation conducted to identify whether any particular act or operation gives rise to a safety risk or hazard.

Introducing new machinery

Before any item of machinery is introduced for the first time, an employer should carry out a risk assessment. The purpose of this is to identify whether there are any particular hazards associated with its use in our workplace. For example, these could involve space constraints or noise levels. If it isn’t reasonably practicable to reduce or eliminate these, then the risk assessment must describe to staff how these hazards will be dealt with, e.g. by the use of hearing protection. All risk assessment findings must be communicated to staff with additional training or team briefs.

Using cranes, lifting machinery, hoists etc. can be dangerous both for the operator and any fellow workers in the vicinity. employers are legally obliged to provide safe equipment, machinery and plant along with adequately trained co-workers. If you are using a machine you should be trained and qualified to do so.

Employee training

As part of an employers duty to maintain safe systems of work, only trained employees should operate machinery. The training may take a number of different forms such as on the job training or in house workshops etc. It may well be that the employer decides to outsource the training to dedicated suppliers All records of staff training must be kept on individual employees. In addition employers must maintain a register of trained users. If you have been injured at work and require immediate accident claim assistance: To make a written enquiry - just complete the brief form below. Our team will respond to all written enquiries within 1 hour 8am-8pm. Cont.

Maintenance & Inspection of machinery

All machinery will be subject to maintenance and inspection, as necessary, for its continued safe operation. Where appropriate, this should be carried out under a service contract by qualified professionals or experts. Records of any maintenance and routine repairs should be kept for at least three years. Any employee experiencing a problem between routine maintenance, should complete an “Unsafe Machinery/equipment Report Form and ensure the management are made aware of the problem. This assumes of course that the employee knows of their obligations to report defects.

Electrical safety guidelines

Employers should ensure that staff adhere to the following safety measures:

•  They must only use electrical tools that they have been shown / trained how to operate.
•  Basic visual checks of equipment should be made before equipment is used.
• Electrical cables must be kept away from the path of other tools and machinery, such as saws and grinders that could damage or sever a cable.
•  Staff should always switch off and unplug electrical tools before repairing or cleaning them.  
•  Faulty tools must be reported promptly to a supervisor and taken out of use.
• Suitable personal protective equipment must always worn.

For immediate accident claim assistance please telephone our Freephone accident claim helpline on 0800 0322210

For comprehensive information on Health & Safety in the workplace from the official government website, please visit: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/HealthAndSafetyAtWork/index.htm

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