Buying new machinery

A short guide to the law and your responsibilities when buying new machinery for use at work

This leaflet is for anyone who is responsible for buying new machinery for use at work. It may also be useful for manufacturers, suppliers and users.

It has been updated now that the UK is no longer a member state of the EU, and to reflect revisions made to other relevant UK product law in recent years. Please note that the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (as amended in 2011) continue in force unchanged even though the UK has left the EU.

It explains the main aspects of health and safety law you need to know about when buying new machinery for use at work to ensure it is safe.

The information in this leaflet is arranged in four sections:

• a summary of the law on new machinery
• what you have to do in practice
• more detailed information about machinery supply law
• checklists to use when talking to suppliers and buying new machinery