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Equipment that moves under its own power, or is moved by external power, is classed as mobile work equipment. This includes all vehicles and any trailers etc. and equipment mounted on them. It also includes rail-mounted equipment such as trains, overhead travelling cranes or hoists operating on runways. In some cases plant and equipment moving along a bed or track would fall within the definition, especially if the operator's control point also moved.
Measures should be taken to prevent pedestrians coming within the area of operation of mobile work equipment. Where this cannot be achieved, the application of traffic rules to minimise the risk is required. Reference should be made to the guidance on workplace and welfare.
Equipment must only be used to carry people if it is suitable for this purpose and provides facilities to ensure their safety. Where people being carried on mobile work equipment are at risk from falling objects, cabs or protective cages should be fitted.
The stability of mobile work equipment should be assessed. Where there is risk of equipment rolling over, measures should be taken to stabilise it or to prevent it doing no more than falling on its side. Where people could be crushed during a rollover incident, seatbelts or other restraint systems must be fitted.
Compliance with these requirements is not required if:
Fork lift trucks are considered separately and must be adapted or equipped to reduce the risk from overturning to as low as possible. The vast majority of forklift trucks have for many years been fitted with operator cages but will require the fitting of seat belts, if this is possible, where there is a risk of overturning. In some trucks, battery restraint systems may additionally be necessary to prevent the battery moving in rollover conditions.
If tractors are fitted with a rollover protective structure rather than a cab, a restraining system will be required. Where a cab is fitted, if people are likely to be injured through contact with the inside of the structure during rollover, restraining systems are likely to be required.
All powered mobile equipment must be provided with facilities to prevent unauthorised persons from starting it. In most cases this will be a key, although some mobile equipment without electrical systems may need removable starting handles to be fitted.
Adequate braking systems must be provided and, where necessary, emergency stop or braking controls must be fitted.
Rail-mounted equipment must be fitted with systems to minimise collision risks.
Mobile plant must be provided with devices to ensure adequate fields of vision for the driver. This may include simple mirrors or in some cases CCTV systems to view blind spots on large vehicles.
Lighting systems must be provided where vehicles are used in dark places.
Where a vehicle or its load constitutes a fire hazard then adequate fire extinguishers must be carried. Where there would be difficulty in escaping from work equipment should it or its load catch fire, fire extinguishers must be provided.
Where equipment is remotely controlled, arrangements should be made to ensure it stops automatically once the control signal is lost.
Remotely controlled equipment should also be equipped with equipment such as proximity sensors etc. to prevent risks from contact with it.
This applies to devices for conveying power from mobile work equipment to any other equipment connected to it.
Power take-off or drive shafts must be fitted with guards and means of preventing a seizure of the drive shaft or minimising the consequences of seizure.
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