Health and Safety, Plant & Machinery
This course is designed for individuals who use, or are required to use, equipment and machinery as part of their work and who need to demonstrate the knowledge, practical skills and safe working practices necessary for its appropriate selection, preparation, operation and routine care.
Learners will develop an understanding of the hazards associated with work equipment and machinery and the controls required to reduce risk. The course develops competence in selecting suitable equipment for the task, interpreting manufacturers’ instructions, completing pre-use inspections and routine operator checks, using appropriate personal protective equipment, operating equipment within its intended purpose and limitations, identifying defects and abnormal conditions, and completing appropriate shutdown, post-use and storage procedures.
Practical activities enable learners to apply safe working practices to equipment and machinery relevant to the delivery context. This may include non-powered tools and equipment, hand-held powered equipment, pedestrian-controlled powered equipment and bench-mounted equipment. Learners will also consider routine operator maintenance activities such as cleaning, lubrication, fluid checks, adjustment and charging where these activities are permitted by the manufacturer and fall within the operator’s level of competence.
The course supports workplace competence by requiring learners to recognise when equipment must not be used, when defects or unsafe conditions must be reported, and when maintenance, repair or specialist assistance falls outside their authority or competence. Learners will consider the safe management of fuels, oils, fluids, gases, dust, compressed air and other hazardous substances that may arise from equipment use, together with appropriate environmental controls and waste management arrangements.
The course is relevant across workplaces where employees operate or interact with equipment and machinery and provides a broad foundation for safe equipment use. It does not replace equipment-specific training where the complexity, risk, manufacturer requirements or nature of the machinery requires additional specialist instruction and assessment.
Particular emphasis is placed on preventing injury arising from unsuitable equipment selection, inadequate inspection, defective or poorly maintained equipment, moving or rotating components, unsafe intervention, hazardous substances and failure to follow manufacturers’ instructions or established safe systems of work.
Select a county from the drop down box to find your nearest UKRS accredited training provider delivering this course.
