Engineering
and Inspection Insurance >
Inspection
Inspections
are carried out by insurers Qualified Engineer Surveyors.
The insurers Engineer Surveyor field force carries out
statutory and non-statutory examinations. Statutory
examinations cover lifting equipment, pressure plant,
electronic installations, power presses and work equipment
dealt with by national legislation and EU directives.
Non-statutory examinations cover plant and equipment
not governed by specific legislation (although such
plant and equipment may be the subject of Health and
Safety Executive guidance notes).
Examinations
include: (Click on one of the following)
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Pressure Equipment
The Pressure
Systems Safety Regulations 2000 have replaced the
Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Container
Regulations 1989; they require pressure systems
to be inspected in accordance with a Written Scheme
of Examination.
The regulations
apply to owners and users of systems containing 'relevant
fluids', (which include steam, gases under pressure
and any fluids kept artificially under pressure and
which become gases when released to the atmosphere).
If a boiler
operates at 100°C and over, it comes under the Pressure
Systems Safety Regulations. However, we recommend that
all hot water boilers be inspected. In addition,
the regulations cover refrigeration and air-conditioning
plant where the total installed power exceeds 25kW.
Here again we recommend inspections of all such plant,
above and below 25kW.
Following
an assessment a Written Scheme of Examination must be
drawn up by a competent person, and must include a definition
of the items included in the system and details of the
frequency of inspection.
Inspection Procedures normally include both a thorough
examination (with the system shut down and vessels opened
up) and a working examination of the system under normal
operation.
Inspection intervals may vary according to the application
of the system(s). The intervals shown in the on-line
guide are those specified by the Safety
Assessment Federation (SAFed)
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Cranes
& Lifting Equipment
The key piece
of legislation concerning cranes and lifting equipment
is LOLER - The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment
Regulations 1998. These regulations apply to all work
equipment that has a lifting function, they apply in
addition to The Provision & Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 (PUWER98), and aim to offer safeguards
to people working with lifting equipment. The user is
required to:
- Use a
competent person to plan lifting operations
- Ensure
that the equipment is suitable
- Ensure
that the lifting operation will not endanger people
in the vicinity
- Assess
requirements for inspections of lifting equipment
and accessories
- Have regular
inspections carried out by a suitably competent person
Note that LOLER applies not only to the equipment
itself, but also to the safe operation of the equipment.
Timing
of Inspections
Inspections
must be carried out:
- Before
equipment is actually put into service, (unless it
has a Declaration of Conformity less than twelve months
old)
- Immediately
following installation (if safe operation depends
on correct installation)
- Where
equipment operates in conditions which could cause
deterioration
- After
an exceptional event (e.g. an accident)
Frequency
of Inspections
LOLER allows
inspections to be undertaken either in accordance with
an 'Examination Scheme' or at the following predetermined
intervals:
| Lifting
equipment which lifts people |
6
months |
| Lifting
Accessories including shackles, hooks, chains, fittings
etc. |
6
months |
| All
other lifting equipment, including cranes and loading
equipment. |
12
months |
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Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems
Use extract
ventilation to prevent or reduce the level of airborne
hazardous substances from being breathed by people in
the workplace
Draw pollutants
away from a process or operation that is likely to release
a hazardous substance into the workplace
Consist of
an inlet such as a hood, slot booth or cabinet placed
around or close to the point of release of the substance.
The device is usually connected via a ducting to the
inlet of a fan or air mover. The extracted air is usually
discharged to the atmosphere or returned elsewhere in
the workplace, having first been cleaned to make it
safe for release.
There are
three sets of Regulations that specifically require
employers to operate, maintain, examine & test LEV
systems at regular intervals, they are:
- The Control
of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations
1999
- The Control
of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987
- The Control
of Lead at Work Regulations 1998
Frequency
of Inspections
The COSHH
regulations require that LEV systems must be maintained
in an efficient state, in efficient working order and
in good repair. They should be examined and tested at
least once every 14 months.
Processes
in which blasting is carried out in or
incidental to the cleaning of metal castings in
connection with their manufacture |
1
month |
| Jute
Cloth manufacture |
1
month |
Processes
other than wet processes, in which
metal articles (other than of gold, platinum or
iridium) are ground, abraded or polished using mechanical
power, in any room for more than 12 hours per week. |
6
months |
| Processes
giving of dust or fume in which non-ferrous metal
castings are produced. |
6
months |
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Power
Presses and Process Machinery
The term
power press has a specific meaning within PUWER98
it is defined as:
'A press or press brake for the working of metal
by means of tools, or for die proving, which is power
driven and which embodies a flywheel.'
Periodic examination of power presses by a competent
person is required every 12 months where it has
fixed guards or enclosed tools, or 6 months in
other cases. Any defects identified during the course
of the examination must be remedied before the power
press is used again. Power presses must also be examined
each time exceptional circumstances have occurred which
are likely to jeopardise the safety of the power press
or its guards or protection devices. e.g. major modification,
refurbishment or repair. Known or suspected serious
damage. A substantial change in the nature of use.
Other Process Machinery
All other
process machinery whether fitted with guards or not
will fall under the scope of PUWER98, the frequency
of inspection will be dependent upon an assessment of
the risk. Recommendations for good practice are provided
in guidance notes, details can be found in the on-line
guide.
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Electrical
Installations & Equipment
The Electricity
at Work Regulations 1989 (1991 in Northern Ireland)
are made under the Health & Safety at Work 1974.
The Regulations require that employers as 'Duty Holders'
must provide a safe working environment with respect
to all electrical equipment and systems, regardless
of when they were manufactured, installed or brought
into use.
The employer, self-employed and employees all have duties
and obligations in complying with the requirements of
the Regulations, which apply to all workplaces. All
electrical systems must be maintained in a safe condition
and an important aspect of such maintenance is periodic
inspection and testing.
Electrical Installations within the UK are covered by
British Standard: BS 7671:2001 Requirements for Electrical
Installations. Detailed recommendations regarding the
periodic inspection and testing of installations are
given in guidance note 3 to the standard. Specific requirements
may be stipulated by the licensing authority for particular
premises, or recommended in Approved Codes of Practice
or guidance notes for special systems such as emergency
lighting and lighting protection. Electrical machinery
and equipment should also be inspected periodically
as an integral part of maintenance, the frequency depending
upon the risk associated with the equipment.
Typical recommended maximum periods between inspection
& testing
| Commercial
Premises |
5
years and on change of tenancy |
| Industrial
Premises |
3
years |
| Places
of Public Entertainment |
1
year |
| Petrol
Filling Stations |
1
year |
| Quarries |
6
months |
| Emergency
Lighting Systems |
3
years |
| Domestic
Premises |
10
years |
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Engineering Product Safety
Directives
are being implemented throughout the European Union
to ensure engineering products meet minimum safety standards.
Whilst compliance with these directives opens up a huge
market, they present a potential 'minefield' to manufacturers,
importers or purchasers. Through insurers Qualified
Engineers we can guide you through the rules and regulations
to ensure the products you supply or purchase are safe
and meet the requirements of the law.
CE Marking
The familiar
CE mark together with an appropriate declaration
of conformity is used to indicate that products
conform to relevant European directives. As insurers
engineers act as a Notified Body for Lifts, Machinery
and Pressure Equipment they can help you achieve conformity
in the most cost effective way for your particular business.
Lifts
The Lifts
Directive was transposed into UK legislation by means
of the "Lifts Regulations 1997". From
1st July 1999 only lifts that comply with these regulations
can be placed on the market and put into service in
any country within the European Union. The regulations
lay down a number of essential health & safety
requirements and allow the manufacture/installer
to choose the most appropriate way to meet them.
Machinery
Since 1st
January 1995 it has been illegal to supply or install
machinery anywhere in the European Economic Area
that does not comply with the requirements of the Machinery
Directive. In the UK this directive was transposed into
law as the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations
1992. Machinery must comply with the essential
health & safety requirements laid down in the
regulations, these requirements set safety objectives
and allow the manufacturer/installer to choose an appropriate
way to meet them.
One way is
to design, build and install the machine in accordance
with Harmonised Standards, another route is to
identify the hazards associated with the machine and
justify the solutions adopted to minimise the risk in
a technical construction file. For the majority
of machines demonstration of compliance is with the
regulations is by self-certification, however
certain types of machine are recognised as posing special
hazards. These are detailed in schedule IV of
the regulations and in these cases a notified body must
be engaged to participate in the conformity assessment
procedure.
Pressure
Equipment
The Pressure
Equipment Directive has been transposed into UK law
by the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999. From
the 29th of May 2002 only pressure equipment complying
with the Regulations may be put onto the market. The
Regulations are based upon a risk assessment approach;
they categorise equipment according to the type of fluid
and the stored energy present. The manufacturer can
then select a conformity assessment route based
on the categorisation. The regulations apply to pressure
equipment with a maximum allowable pressure greater
than 0.5 bar gauge and include equipment such as:
- Boilers
- Pressure
Vessels
- Heat Exchangers
- Pipework
- Safety
Accessories
- Pressure
Accessories
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Workplace
Health & Safety
No employer
can afford to take chances where health, safety and
environmental issues are concerned, not only are there
legal responsibilities to fulfill but failure to take
these matters seriously can result in costly litigation
that can pose a real threat to your business.
Working closely
with insurers Qualified Engineers and their Health &
Safety specialists we can offer a range of consultancy
services that can help you maintain and improve the
safety of your equipment and workplace.
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