Compliance reminder for plant, machinery and equipment

Plant, machinery and equipment must be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided and may be used only under the conditions for which it is suitable. It must be maintained, in working order and in good repair, and must comply with relevant design and construction standards where applicable.

Suitability is not determined solely by the design of the equipment, but by how, where, and by whom it is used. Equipment that is suitable in one environment or for one task may be unsuitable in another. Items that conform to applicable British, European, or International Standards (BS/EN/ISO) provide strong evidence that they meet recognised safety and performance criteria and are suitable for their intended use. Items that fall under the scope of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 – generally all powered items must be supplied with:

• CE or UKCA marking
• Declaration of Conformity
• Technical documentation and user instructions

CE and UKCA mark logos

The following can help to ensure suitability of intended use:

• it is designed and constructed for the specific task or opera􀆟on to be undertaken
• it is suitable for the environment in which it will be used (e.g. ground  conditions, weather, type of worksite)
• it is compatible with any other item used alongside it, including any  attachment or implement
• any manufacturer specified limits in respect of operating speed or capacity are not exceeded
• the equipment has been inspected before use and confirmed to be in a safe and serviceable condition
• all safety features are present, functional, and used as intended
• it is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and under the conditions for which it was designed

Modification and Alteration

Plant, machinery, and equipment must not be modified, adapted, or altered unless the change is approved by the manufacturer or by a person competent to determine that the  modification does not affect the equipment’s safety, performance, or conformity with legal requirements.

Any item subject to  modification or adaption must remain suitable, safe, and compliant with relevant standards and manufacturer specifications.

Machinery that has been significantly modified may be considered new machinery, meaning it must be reassessed for conformity, re-marked (UKCA/CE), and issued with a new Declaration of Conformity. A significant modification generally means a change that:

• alter the machinery’s function or performance
• affect safety-related control systems
• change how the machine is used or what it is used for
• introduce new hazards or risks beyond those originally assessed during design and manufacture.