Maintaining equipment

The HSE has issued guidance for carrying out thorough examination and testing of lifting and pressure equipment. It recognises it may be difficult to complete thorough examination and testing on time during the outbreak because of: a backlog of thorough examination and testing inspections not done during lockdown; lack of staff and contractor availability to prepare complex pressure systems for examination; and refusal of engineers to enter workplaces to carry out thorough examination and testing, because they think working arrangements may not be safe.

It says the requirement that work plant and equipment is maintained and safe to use remains in place for equipment requiring examination and testing under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations; Pressure Systems Safety Regulations; Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (including power presses); Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (for local exhaust ventilation) (see Chapter 7); and Electricity at Work Regulations (see Chapter 9).

The HSE expects duty-holders to make reasonable efforts to arrange thorough examination and testing within legal time limits. However, it will adopt a pragmatic and proportionate approach towards enforcement action if the outbreak means they cannot arrange examination and testing, as long as they make sure equipment is still safe to use.