HSE urges mobile work equipment users to meet compliance deadline

HSE Press Release E169:02 - 6 September 2002

Users of mobile work equipment have just 90 days to comply with safety regulations, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warns today.

Mobile work equipment includes, for example, forklift trucks, dumper trucks and tractors. For new equipment the requirement to comply with Part III of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) has been in effect since 5 December 1998. But for equipment in use before that date, there is now just three months of a four-year transitional period to go.

Timothy Walker, HSE's Director General, said:

"The HSE is committed to reducing the number of deaths involving mobile work equipment. Last year 99 people were killed and over 8,000 people were injured in accidents involving workplace transport. The entry into effect of Part III of PUWER 98 will contribute to reducing the unacceptable level of deaths and injuries."

The serious safety risks involved in the use of mobile equipment include: being struck by the vehicle; the vehicle rolling over; the driver or passengers falling from the vehicle or being struck by a falling object; unauthorised start up of the vehicle; inadequate devices for braking and stopping; and restricted driver visibility.

Part III of PUWER addresses these risks by requiring duty holders to ensure their equipment is safe to use. Duty holders may have to take measures such as retrofitting roll-over protective structures (ROPS), falling object protective structures (FOPS), operator restraints (seat belts, lap belts, etc) and driver visibility aids such as mirrors. For instance, if under the particular conditions of use, mobile plant is likely to overturn, the user must provide a ROPS and operator restraint.

HSE is also reminding duty holders of the need to ensure that when mobile plant is used in conditions where overturn is likely, the operator restraint is worn. ROPS and restraints can be rendered useless if the driver of an overturning vehicle is not wearing the seat belt provided. Supervisors should regularly check that drivers are wearing seat belts where necessary.

Notes to editors

1. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), together with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), implement the Amending Directive to the Use of Work Equipment Directive (95/63/EC).

2. Part III of PUWER (comprising six regulations) was introduced to deal with the risks involved in the use of mobile work equipment such as forklift trucks, dumpers and tractors. It came into force immediately for new equipment, but mobile work equipment already in use before 5 December 1998 (when PUWER was introduced) has until 5 December 2002 to comply. The transitional period recognised that users need time to adapt or retrofit existing equipment and allows them to spread any costs over several years.

3. The accident statistics quoted in this press release are HSE figures for the year 2000/2001. There were 99 fatalities, 2,490 major injuries, and 5,857 over-3-day injuries.

4. Further information is available in HSE's free leaflet Fitting and Use of Restraining Systems on Lift Trucks (HSE Information Sheet MISC 241).

5. Copies of Safe Use of Work Equipment - Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L22), ISBN 0 7176 1626 6, price £8.00, and Fitting and Use of Restraining Systems on Lift Trucks (MISC 241) are available online at: http://books.hse.gov.uk

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