Equipment Safety

THERE ARE MANY organizations looking at ways in which to make the work they undertake easier and quicker, and safety is not always the first thing on the agenda.

The veterinary profession is no exception, with practices employing numerous pieces of equipment and apparatus. However, it is vital that safety considerations are taken into account when purchasing, using and maintaining such items.

There is also health and safety legislation that will need to be applied and observed, for example:

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999;
• The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992;
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; and
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

Risk assessment
The first thing to consider is the work task, in order to identify how it is being carried out and if there is a better and safer way. This should be done in a formal risk assessment where you analyse:

• the hazards associated with the task being undertaken;
• the individuals who are at risk;
• the current control measures that are in place; and
• what further control measures are required to be implemented.

If it is decided the task can be made easier and safer by introducing a new piece of equipment, it will be necessary to compile a pre-assessment. This will help decide if the machine or the equipment will be suitable for the task that you intend, especially if it is an “off the shelf” unit. Therefore, it is advisable to give the following points some thought:

• where, and how, the equipment is to be used;
• what will it be used for;
• who will use it, and is additional staff training required;
• how other practices undertake the task, and what equipment they use; and
• what health and safety risks might the new equipment bring.

If you are purchasing an intricate machine or item of equipment discuss your specific needs with your supplier as they should be aware of the limitations of the equipment and may even be able to advise on alternative methods of carrying out the task.

All manufacturers must ensure that machines they supply are safe for use and should be fitted with appropriate safety devices. The manufacturer should also have compiled a suitable and sufficient risk assessment while designing the apparatus, eliminating any hazards before the manufacturing stage.

Unfortunately, this is not always possible, so the manufacturers must highlight any inherent hazards by displaying suitable warning signs on the equipment, as well as supplying the requisite information within the instruction manual.

CE marking
All new machinery and equipment should display a CE marking to show that it complies with relevant supply laws. However, the CE marking does not necessarily mean that the machine/equipment is safe; the user will need to ensure that it is not dangerous prior to it being used for the first time.

When you take possession of your new machine/equipment, make sure you have all the relevant information and instructions on how it works, including the appropriate safety features.

If you purchase items of equipment “off the shelf”, instructions should be provided with the unit. However, if you buy a more intricate machine then suitable training and instruction should be given by the supplier to the end user(s).

Inspection
When inspecting your new machinery/equipment, set aside enough time to do it properly and, with a little common sense, some safety-related issues should be obvious. For example, consider the following factors:

• does the machine/equipment look dangerous, ie are the moving parts with the potential to be a hazard exposed, or are they suitably guarded;
• are all guards in place, and secured with mechanical fixings;
• are the controls clearly marked, and can it be stopped quickly in an emergency;
• are there any exposed electrical parts; and
• are the manufacturer’s instructions clear?

If, for any reason, you believe that the machine/equipment is not safe then it should not be used. You should then contact the supplier for further advice and, if necessary, the issues should be rectified.

Should your organization decide to purchase second-hand machinery or equipment then it will be down to you to ensure that it is safe for use. While second-hand machinery/equipment may carry a CE marking, there is still a duty on the supplier to ensure that it is safe and has the appropriate instructions advising on how it should be used.

However, you may find that the equipment has been refurbished and the CE marking has been added at this stage. Therefore, it will be equally important to ensure that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is conducted for the use of your second hand machinery/equipment to guarantee that it is:

• safe to use;
• suitable for the work that you intend it to do; and
• maintained in a safe condition.

Of course, a great deal of what has been mentioned comes down to common sense, yet there are still a high number of accidents involving work equipment.

By following the guidance given above – and involving all the relevant members of the practice team – you will, hopefully, find the practice operating in a safer and more efficient way.