Insurers will want to know that equipment used in the work place complies with Health and Safety regulations before insuring your premises.

Q. What does the term "use of work equipment" actually include?

A. Work equipment is taken to include all machinery, appliances, apparatus, tools and/or any plant made from assembled components, while "use" is defined as any activity associated with work equipment, eg starting, stopping, programming, setting, transporting, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing and cleaning.

Q. What is the relationship between the PUWER and Safety of Machinery Regulations?

A. Both sets of Regulations must be complied with, although machinery which complies with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended) is recognised as complying with the specific requirements of PUWER, ie the provisions relating to dangerous parts, controls, extreme temperatures, isolation, stability, etc. The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended) are not retrospective and therefore only apply to machinery supplied to the UK since the Regulations were brought into force on 1 January 1993.

Q. What is the situation regarding second-hand work equipment?

A. Second-hand equipment is deemed to be new equipment and the purchasing organisation must ensure it meets the requirements of the PUWER Regulations. The same applies to leased or hired equipment.