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PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT (referred to in Article 4(3)) General comment This Annex applies having regard to this Directive and where the corresponding risk exists for the work equipment in question.

1. General provisions for all work equipment 1.1. Work equipment must be installed, located and used in such a way as to reduce risks to users of the work equipment and for other workers, for example by ensuring that there is sufficient space between the moving parts of work equipment and fixed or moving parts in its environment and that all forms of energy and substances used or produced can be supplied or removed in a safe manner.

1.2. Work equipment must be erected or dismantled under safe conditions, in particular observing any instructions which may have been furnished by the manufacturer.

1.3. Work equipment which may be struck by lightning while being used must be protected by devices or appropriate means to counter the effects of lightning.

2. Provisions concerning the use of mobile equipment, whether or not self-propelled

2.1. Self-propelled work equipment shall be driven only by workers who have been appropriately trained in the safe driving of such equipment.

2.2. If work equipment is moving around in a work area, appropriate traffic rules must be drawn up and followed.

2.3. Organisational measures must be taken to prevent workers on foot coming within the area of operation of self-propelled work equipment. If work can be done properly only if workers on foot are present, appropriate measures must be taken to prevent them from being injured by the equipment.

2.4. The transport of workers on mechanically driven mobile work equipment is authorised only where safe facilities are provided for that purpose. If work must be carried out during the journey, speeds must be adjusted as necessary.

2.5. Mobile work equipment with a combustion engine may not be used in working areas unless sufficient quantities of air presenting no health or safety risk to workers can be guaranteed.

3. Provisions concerning the use of work equipment for lifting loads 3.1. General considerations

3.1.1. Work equipment which is mobile or can be dismantled and which is designed for lifting loads must be used in such a way as to ensure the stability of the work equipment during use under all foreseeable conditions, taking into account the nature of the ground.

3.1.2. Persons may be lifted only by means of work equipment and accessories provided for that purpose. Without prejudice to Article 5 of Directive 89/391/EEC, exceptionally, work equipment which is not specifically designed for the purpose of lifting persons may be used for that purpose, provided appropriate action has been taken to ensure safety in accordance with national legislation and/or practice providing for appropriate supervision. While workers are on work equipment designed for lifting loads the control position must be manned at all times. Persons being lifted must have reliable means of communication. In the event of danger, there must be reliable means of evacuating them.

3.1.3. Measures must be taken to ensure that workers are not present under suspended loads, unless such presence is required for the effective operation of the work.

Loads may not be moved above unprotected workplaces usually occupied by workers. Where that is the case, if work cannot be carried out properly any other way, appropriate procedures must be laid down and applied.

3.1.4. Lifting accessories must be selected according to the loads to be handled, gripping points, attachment tackle and atmospheric conditions having regard to the mode and configuration of slinging. Lifting accessory tackle must be clearly marked so that users are aware of its characteristics where such tackle is not dismantled after use.

3.1.5. Lifting accessories must be stored in a way that ensures that they will not be damaged or degraded.

3.2. Work equipment for lifting non-guided loads 3.2.1. When two or more items of work equipment used for lifting non-guided loads are installed or erected on a site in such a way that their working radii overlap, appropriate measures must be taken to avoid collision between loads or the work equipment parts themselves.

3.2.2. When using mobile work equipment for lifting non-guided loads, measures must be taken to prevent the equipment from tilting, overturning or, as the case may be, moving or slipping. Checks must be carried out to ensure that these measures are executed properly.

3.2.3. If the operator of work equipment designed for lifting non-guided loads cannot observe the full path of the load either directly or by means of auxiliary equipment providing the necessary information, a competent person must be in communication with the operator to guide him and organisational measures must be taken to prevent collisions of the load which could endanger workers.

3.2.4. Work must be organised in such a way that, when a worker is attaching or detaching a load by hand, it can be done safely, in particular through the worker retaining direct or indirect control of the work equipment.

3.2.5. All lifting operations must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in such a way as to protect the safety of workers.

In particular, if a load has to be lifted simultaneously by two or more items of work equipment designed for lifting non-guided loads, a procedure must be established and applied to ensure good coordination on the part of the operators.

3.2.6. If work equipment designed for lifting non-guided loads cannot maintain its hold on the load in the event of a complete or partial power failure, appropriate measures must be taken to avoid exposing workers to any resultant risks. Suspended loads must not be left unsupervised unless access to the danger zone is prevented and the load has been safely suspended and is safely held.

3.2.7. Open-air use of work equipment designed for lifting non-guided loads must be halted when meteorological conditions deteriorate to the point of jeopardising the safe use of the equipment and exposing workers to risks. Adequate protection measures, in particular measures to avoid work equipment turning over, must be taken to avoid any risks to workers.

4. Provisions concerning the use of work equipment provided for temporary work at a height 4.1. General provisions

4.1.1. If, pursuant to Article 6 of Directive 89/391/EEC and Article 3 of this Directive, temporary work at a height cannot be carried out safely and under appropriate ergonomic conditions from a suitable surface, the work equipment most suitable to ensure and maintain safe working conditions must be selected. Collective protection measures must be given priority over personal protection measures. The dimensions of the work equipment must be appropriate to the nature of the work to be performed and to the foreseeable stresses, and must allow passage without danger. The most appropriate means of access to temporary workplaces at a height must be selected according to the frequency of passage, the height to be negotiated and the duration of use. The choice made must permit evacuation in the event of imminent danger. Passage in either direction between a means of access and platforms, decks or gangways must not give rise to any additional risks of falling.

4.1.2. Ladders may be used as work stations for work at a height only under circumstances in which, given point 4.1.1, the use of other, safer work equipment is not justified because of the low level of risk and by reason of either the short duration of use or existing features on site that the employer cannot alter.

4.1.3. Rope access and positioning techniques may be used only under circumstances where the risk assessment indicates that the work can be performed safely and where the use of other, safer work equipment is not justified. Taking the risk assessment into account and depending in particular on the duration of the job and the ergonomic constraints, provision must be made for a seat with appropriate accessories.

4.1.4. Depending on the type of work equipment selected on the basis of the foregoing, the appropriate measures for minimising the risks to workers inherent in that type of equipment must be determined. If necessary, provision must be made for the installation of safeguards to prevent falls. These must be of suitable configuration and sufficient strength to prevent or arrest falls from a height and, as far as possible, to preclude injury to workers. Collective safeguards to prevent falls may be interrupted only at points of ladder or stairway access.

4.1.5. When the performance of a particular task requires the temporary removal of a collective safeguard designed to prevent falls, effective compensatory safety measures must be taken. The task may not be performed until such measures have been taken. Once the particular task has been finished, either definitively or temporarily, the collective safeguards to prevent falls must be reinstalled.

4.1.6. Temporary work at a height may be carried out only when the weather conditions do not jeopardise the safety and health of workers.

4.2. Specific provisions regarding the use of ladders

4.2.1. Ladders must be so positioned as to ensure their stability during use. Portable ladders must rest on a stable, strong, suitably-sized, immobile footing so that the rungs remain horizontal. Suspended ladders must be attached in a secure manner and, with the exception of rope ladders, in such a way that they cannot be displaced and swinging is prevented.

4.2.2. The feet of portable ladders must be prevented from slipping during use by securing the uprights at or near their upper or lower ends, by any anti-slip device or by any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness. Ladders used for access must be long enough to protrude sufficiently beyond the access platform, unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold. Interlocking ladders and extension ladders must be used in such a way that the different sections are prevented from moving relative to one another. Mobile ladders must be prevented from moving before they are stepped on.