Employers Legal Requirements
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires, every employer to ensure that work equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is provided, only used in the place and under the provisions for which it is provided. It also requires every employer to ensure work equipment be efficiently maintained and kept fit and suitable for its intended purpose. It must not be allowed to deteriorate in function or performance to such a level that it puts people at risk. This means that regular, routine and planned maintenance regimes must be considered if hazardous problems can arise.
Regulation 3 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 recognises a responsibility that employers, and many employees, have for electrical systems.
"It shall be the duty of every employer and self employed person to comply with the provisions of the Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control".
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:
(a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable and duty placed on that employer by the provision of the Regulations to be complied with: and
(b) to comply with the provision of these regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control."
There are four main regulations which cover Health and Safety law:
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts the duty of care upon both the employer, and the employee, to ensure the safety of all persons using the work place.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state:
"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work" and to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking."
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state:
"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for which it is provided."
(PUWER 1998) covers most risks that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to achieve compliance with the (PUWER 1998).
(PUWER 1998) only applies to work equipment used by employees at work. This includes all work equipment connected to a source of electrical energy and does not apply to fixed installations in a building such as the building internal wiring. The electrical safety of which is dealt with by the Electricity at Work Regulations.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state:
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all (electrical) systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
‘System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment"
Regulation 3 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 recognises a responsibility that employers, and many employees, have for electrical systems.
"It shall be the duty of every employer and self employed person to comply with the provisions of the Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control".
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:
(a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable and duty placed on that employer by the provision of the Regulations to be complied with: and
(b) to comply with the provision of these regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control."
There are four main regulations which cover Health and Safety law:
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts the duty of care upon both the employer, and the employee, to ensure the safety of all persons using the work place.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state:
"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work" and to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking."
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state:
"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for which it is provided."
(PUWER 1998) covers most risks that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to achieve compliance with the (PUWER 1998).
(PUWER 1998) only applies to work equipment used by employees at work. This includes all work equipment connected to a source of electrical energy and does not apply to fixed installations in a building such as the building internal wiring. The electrical safety of which is dealt with by the Electricity at Work Regulations.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state:
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all (electrical) systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
‘System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment"