Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Inspection

6.—(1) Every employer shall ensure that, where the safety of work equipment depends on the installation conditions, it is inspected—

(a) after installation and before being put into service for the first time; or

(b) after assembly at a new site or in a new location,

to ensure that it has been installed correctly and is safe to operate.

(2) Every employer shall ensure that work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is inspected—

(a) at suitable intervals; and

(b) each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardise the safety of work equipment have occurred,

to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time.

(3) Every employer shall ensure that the result of an inspection made under this regulation is recorded and kept until the next inspection under this regulation is recorded.

(4) Every employer shall ensure that no work equipment—

(a) leaves his undertaking; or

(b) if obtained from the undertaking of another person, is used in his undertaking,

unless it is accompanied by physical evidence that the last inspection required to be carried out under this regulation has been carried out.

(5) This regulation does not apply to—

(a) a power press to which regulations 32 to 35 apply;

(b) a guard or protection device for the tools of such power press;

(c) work equipment for lifting loads including persons;

(d) winding apparatus to which—

(i) the Miscellaneous Mines (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1970(1),

(ii) the Coal and Other Mines (Shafts, Outlets and Roads) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1970(2) or

(iii) the Mines (Emergency Egress) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975(3)

apply;

(e) work equipment required to be inspected by regulation 28 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(4).

(1)

S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1970 No. 104 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations

(2)

S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1970 No. 132 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations

(3)

S.R. 1975 No. 35 as amended by S.R. 1998 No. 375

(4)

S.R. 1996 No. 510 as amended by S.R. 1999 No. 150