Statutory examination and testing
Some items of work equipment require statutory examination and testing in addition to regular maintenance and pre-use checks. This is a systematic and detailed examination of the equipment and safety-critical parts, carried out at legally specified intervals by a competent person who must then complete a written report.
The competent person would normally be employed by another organisation to ensure the report is independent and impartial. Thorough examination should not be carried out by the same person who undertakes routine maintenance of the equipment, as they would then be responsible for assessing their own maintenance work.
If you have any of the following you must ensure that the required statutory inspection and testing is being carried out.
Dust/fume extraction and local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
LEV includes fixed and mobile systems that include a capture hood or booth at the source, ducts, filters, a fan to provide suction and a means of capturing or discharging the waste safely.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations requires that if you have LEV for controlling air-borne contaminants such as dusts, fumes and vapours produced by work processes then you must:
have a periodic thorough examination and test at least every 14 months
keep record of thorough examination record for at least five years
you should also keep information on the installed LEV system to confirm it provides adequate protection, which should be kept for the life of the equipment
This is in addition to regular visual inspection and maintenance to ensure that the LEV continues to provide the necessary protection.
Carrying out a thorough examination and test of LEV equipment requires specialist skills. A specialist organisation that provides this service must meet HSE requirements detailed in Controlling airborne contaminants at work - HSG258.
Responsibilities
The thorough examination of fixed LEV is the responsibility of the Estate Management Section.
Departments are responsible for mobile systems LEV systems that they use. If you have equipment that may come under the definition of LEV, you can contact the Estate Management Helpdesk for advice on thorough examination requirements and details of competent persons who can provide this service. General guidance on control of dust and fumes is available from the Health and Safety team.
Lifting equipment and accessories
Requirements
Thorough examination and inspection by an independent competent person (usually an insurance engineer) at the following intervals:
- new equipment: when it is commissioned (unless the equipment has an EC Declaration of Conformity less than one year old and the equipment was not assembled on site)
- equipment that requires regular assembly: before use at each location (eg tower cranes)
- equipment for lifting plant equipment: annually
- all lifting accessories: six monthly
- equipment used for lifting people: six monthly
Frequency can be varied provided they are in accordance with a written scheme if examination is produced by a competent person.
All lifting equipment must carry an identification mark which can be tracked back to the inspection record.
Pressure systems
Most pressure systems require through examination in accordance with a written scheme drawn up by a competent person (usually an insurance engineer). The written scheme will specify examination intervals and what the examination must include.
This requirement applies to pressure systems containing a 'relevant fluid' and has a pressure vessel that contains steam or has a pressure x volume product of 250 bar-litre or more.
Relevant fluids include steam at any pressure any fluid or mixture of fluids (gas/liquid) which is at a pressure greater than 0.5 bar above atmospheric pressure. This includes compressed air (a mixture of gases) as well as other compressed gases such as nitrogen, acetylene and oxygen. The definition will also include hot water contained above its boiling point at atmospheric pressure (pressurised hot water) or aqueous solutions where a vapour pressure above 0.5 bar (gauge) is generated.
It would include fixed plant and mobile pressure vessels such as air compressors, commercial coffee boilers, pressure cookers and autoclaves where they meet the above requirements.
Responsibilities
The thorough examination of fixed equipment fitting these criteria is the responsibility of the Estate Management Section. Departments are responsible for their own equipment and mobile systems that they use. If you have fixed equipment that may come under these definitions, you can contact the Estate Management Helpdesk for advice on thorough examination requirements.
We can arrange for thorough examination of lifting equipment and pressure systems to be carried out via our insurers. Contact Insurance to include your work equipment on the thorough examination schedule.
For advice on control measures relating to the above, see the guidance linked below or contact the Health and Safety team.
Further information
- HSE guidance on Local exhaust ventilation
- HSE guidance on thorough examination of lifting equipment
- Control of hazardous substances
- HSE guidance on pressure systems
