1981 No. 1414
HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Agriculture (Metrication) Regulations 1981

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into Operation
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 49(1), (2) and (4) and 82(3)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 19741 (“the 1974 Act”) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf and for the purpose of giving effect without modifications to proposals submitted to him by the Health and Safety Commission under section 11(2)(d) of the 1974 Act after the carrying out by the said Commission of consultations in accordance with section 50(3) of that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:—

Citation, commencement and interpretation1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Agriculture (Metrication) Regulations 1981 and shall come into operation on 13th November 1981.

(2)

In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” mean

  • the Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957,

  • the Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957,

  • the Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 19572,
  • the Agriculture (Circular Saws) Regulations 19593,
  • the Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 19594,
  • the Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 19595,
  • the Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 19606,
  • the Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 19627,
  • the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 19748.

Amendments to Regulations to substitute metric measurements for imperial measurements2.

(1)

The provisions of the Regulations specified in the Schedule to these Regulations in Column 1 shall be amended by substituting for the measurements set out opposite thereto in column 3 the measurements set out in the corresponding entry in Column 4.

(2)

Where under this Regulation a measurement is required to be substituted in any provision for a measurement which occurs more than once in that provision the substitution shall be made in each place where it occurs.

Application to existing premises, plant and articles or premises and plant under construction3.

Where any premises, plant or articles in existence or premises or plant under construction immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations complied with the requirements of the principal Regulations as then in force, then those premises or that plant or article shall be deemed to comply with the principal Regulations as amended by these Regulations.

Signed by order of the Secretary of State.

David Waddington
Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Department of Employment

SCHEDULEAMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS

Regulation 2(1)

1

2

3

4

Provisions to be amended

Subject matter of measurement

Present measurement

Substituted measurement

The Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957

Schedule

Part I, Paragraph 2 and Part II, Paragraph 2

(a) minimum length of base of triangular bandage

(a) 51 inches

(a) 1.3 metres

(b) minimum length of sides of triangular bandage

(b) 36 inches

(b) 920 millimetres

Part I, Paragraph 3 and Part II, Paragraph 3

(a) and (b) measurements of waterproof adhesive dressings

(a) 1½ inches × 2 inches

(a) 38 millimetres × 50 millimetres

(b) 2 inches × 3 inches

(b) 50 millimetres × 75 millimetres

Part I, Paragraph 4 and Part II, Paragraph 4

weight of cotton wool packets

half-ounce

15 grams

The Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957

Regulation 3(2)(c)

(a) maximum distances of tie rod from each end of certain ladders

2 feet

610 millimetres

(b) maximum distance between tie rods

8 feet

2.44 metres

Regulation 3(2)(e)

maximum distance between adjacent rungs of non-trestle ladders

12 inches

305 millimetres

The Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 1957

Regulation 3(2)

minimum weight which the shield and cover for take-off is capable of supporting

250 pounds

120 kilograms

Regulation 4(1)(b)

maximum height from the ground of a power take-off shaft which may be fitted with a `U' guard

two feet

600 millimetres

Regulation 4(2)

minimum depth of guard of power take-off shaft below lowest point of circumference

two inches

50 millimetres

The Agriculture (Circular Saw) Regulations 1959

Regulation 2(1)

interpretation of “circular saw”

twelve inches

300 millimetres

First Schedule Part I

Paragraph 4(a)

maximum distance of riving knife from saw blade

half an inch

12 millimetres

Paragraph 5(1)(a)

minimum width of top guard

one inch

25 millimetres

Paragraph 6(2)

(a) maximum distance between bottom guards

(a) six inches

(a) 150 millimetres

(b) minimum extension of bottom guard from edge of saw blade

(b) two inches

(b) 50 millimetres

Paragraph 7(2)(a)

minimum width of top guard

one inch

25 millimetres

Paragraph 7(5)

(a) maximum distance between bottom guards

(a) six inches

(a) 150 millimetres

(b) minimum extension of bottom guards from edge of saw blade

(b) two inches

(b) 50 millimetres

The Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959

Schedule Part II

Paragraph 3(4)(a)

maximum height of stairway not requiring handrail

3 feet

920 millimetres

Paragraph 4(2)

minimum height above highest point of getting on or off steep stairway that hand-hold should extend

3 feet

920 millimetres

Paragraph 5(1)

maximum depth below aperture in floor before guard rails are required

5 feet

1.5 metres

Paragraph 5(1)(b)

minimum height of fence for aperture in floor

3 feet

920 millimetres

Paragraph 5(1)(c)

(a) minimum height of guard rail for aperture in floor

(a) 3 feet

(a) 920 millimetres

(b) maximum height of guard rail for aperture in floor

(b) 3 feet 6 inches

(b) 1.05 metres

Paragraph 5(2)

maximum fall before guard rails are required on edge of floor

5 feet

1.5 metres

Paragraph 5(2)(a)

minimum height of door or fence for edge of floor

3 feet

920 millimetres

Paragraph 5(2)(b)

(a) minimum height of guard rail for edge of floor

(a) 3 feet

(a) 920 millimetres

(b) maximum height of guard rail for edge of floor

(b) 3 feet 6 inches

(b) 1.05 metres

Paragraph 5(3)

maximum fall from aperture in wall before guard rails are required

5 feet

1.5 metres

Paragraph 5(3)(a)

minimum height of door or fence for aperture in wall

3 feet

920 millimetres

Paragraph 5(3)(b)

(a) minimum height of guard rail for aperture in wall

(a) 3 feet

(a) 920 millimetres

(b) maximum height of guard rail for aperture in wall

(b) 3 feet 6 inches

(b) 1.05 metres

Paragraph 5(3)(b)(i)

maximum height of aperture in wall which may be unguarded

4 feet

1.2 metres

Paragraph 5(3)(b)(ii)

minimum distance above floor of aperture in wall which may be unguarded

2 feet

600 millimetres

Paragraph 5(5)

(a) maximum distance of guard rail outside line plumb with the edge of the aperture or floor

(a) 10 inches

(a) 250 millimetres

(b) minimum distance of intermediate rail above floor level

(b) 1 foot 6 inches

(b) 460 millimetres

(c) maximum distance of intermediate rail above floor level

(c) 1 foot 9 inches

(c) 530 millimetres

Paragraph 6(1)

maximum fall before guard rails are required on grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits

5 feet

1.5 metres

Paragraph 6(1)(b)

minimum height of fence for grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits

3 feet

920 millimetres

Paragraph 6(1)(c)

(a) minimum height of guard rail for grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits

(a) 3 feet

(a) 920 millimetres

(b) maximum height of guard rail for grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits

(b) 3 feet 6 inches

(b) 1.05 metres

The Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 1957

Schedule Part II

Paragraph 2(2)

minimum distance from workplace of unguarded component

6 feet 6 inches

2 metres

Paragraph 2(4)

maximum speed of unguarded moving chain or belt

30 feet per minute

0.15 metres per second

Paragraph 3(2)

minimum distance from workplace of run-on points

6 feet 6 inches

2 metres

Paragraph 5(2)(a)

minimum distance from workplace of prime mover not provided with stopping device on or near it

6 feet 6 inches

2 metres

The Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960

Schedule Part II

Paragraph 4(1)

maximum fall before guards required on decks

5 feet

1.5 metres

Paragraph 4(1)(b)

maximum width of access gap in guard

2 feet

600 millimetres

Paragraph 4(2)(b)

(a) minimum height above deck for guard

(a) 3 feet

(a) 920 millimetres

(b) maximum height above deck for guard

(b) 4 feet

(b) 1.2 metres

Paragraph 4(2)(c)

maximum distance between upright supports of guard

8 feet

2.4 metres

Paragraph 8(2)

minimum distance from workplace of unguarded component

6 feet 6 inches

2 metres

The Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962

Schedule I Part II

Paragraph 3(4)

minimum distance from periphery of guard for rotating parts

1 foot

300 millimetres

Paragraph 4(1)

(a) minimum horizontal distance of reel from guard for potato spinner

(a) 1 foot

(a) 300 millimetres

(b) minimum distance from ground of guard for potato spinner

(b) 2 feet

(b) 600 millimetres

(c) maximum distance from ground of guard for potato spinner

(c) 3 feet

(c) 920 millimetres

Paragraph 4(2)

minimum length of chain saw guard

9 inches

230 millimetres

Paragraph 4(5)(b)

(a) minimum distance from ground of guard rail for pick-up

(a) 18 inches

(a) 460 millimetres

(b) maximum distance from ground of guard rail for pick-up

(b) 3 feet 6 inches

(b) 1.05 metres

Paragraph 4(5)(c)

minimum distance of guard rail from front of pick-up

12 inches

300 millimetres

Paragraph 5(1)

minimum distance by which reel of cutter bar extends in front of fingers

1 foot

300 millimetres

Paragraph 9(4)(a)

minimum unladen weight of two-wheel trailer requiring a drawbar jack

10 hundredweight

500 kilograms

Paragraph 9(4)(b)

minimum downward force exerted by drawbar of unladen two-wheel field machine requiring a drawbar jack

56 pounds

250 newtons

Paragraph 9(5)

distance from ground of drawbar for calculation of downward force exerted

16 inches

410 millimetres

Paragraph 11(2)(a)

(a) maximum distance outside platform of toeboards

(a) 2 inches

(a) 50 millimetres

(b) minimum distance above platform of toeboards

(b) 3 inches

(b) 75 millimetres

Paragraph 11(2)(b)

(a) minimum distance above platform of guard rail

(a) 3 feet

(a) 920 millimetres

(b) maximum distance above platform of guard rail

(b) 3 feet 6 inches

(b) 1.05 metres

Paragraph 11(2)(b)(i)(c)

maximum distance from ground of platform which may be left unguarded if worker could fall clear

2 feet

600 millimetres

Paragraph 11(4)(a)

minimum height of toeboard at the leading edge of trailer

4 inches

100 millimetres

Paragraph 13(2)

minimum distance from ground of working position requiring mounting device

21 inches

550 millimetres

Paragraph 13(3)

maximum distance from ground of mounting step

21 inches

550 millimetres

The Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974

Regulation 2(1)

interpretation of “tractor”

11 cwt

560 kilograms

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend:—

the Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957,

the Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957,

the Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 1957,

the Agriculture (Circular Saws) Regulations 1959,

the Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959,

the Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 1959,

the Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960,

the Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962,

the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974,

by substituting amounts or quantities expressed in metric units for amounts or quantities not so expressed. The substituted amounts preserve the effect of the original provisions except to the extent necessary to obtain amounts expressed in convenient and suitable terms.

Regulation 3 provides that the amendments do not relate to premises, plant or articles in existence or to premises or plant under construction immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations if those premises or that plant or article complied with the then existing Regulations.