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<\/p>\nIt can be tempting to wave off pre-use checks when a site’s busy, the kit looks fine, you’ve used it a hundred times, and there’s always more to do. We sat down with Andy Greener, Technical Support & Product Development Manager, to talk through what they are, why they’re worth the time and who needs to conduct them.<\/p>\n
Exactly as it sounds: it\u2019s a visual inspection combined with a functional check of all necessary systems, before equipment use, carried out by a trained, competent person who has the necessary knowledge and experience. It helps to make sure the kit is fit to do the job and will work safely. It’s not a full inspection; on most equipment, it takes just a few minutes. The point is to catch anything obvious before the equipment is under load or in use.<\/p>\n
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“Looks fine from the cab” and “I’ve actually looked at it before using it” aren’t the same thing. A pre-use check is a chance to look over the whole product while it’s not operating, and spot wear, damage, or something that\u2019s not sitting right. It is actually done before each use. For example, if one operator removes the attachment from their excavator, and the next operator then uses it, then another pre-use check should be carried out, so the operator is confident that the first operator did not damage it and it\u2019s safe to use. You can carry out several pre-use checks each day.<\/p>\n
And it’s not only about safety, though that’s the main one. A pre-use check helps you:<\/p>\n
It’s free, quick, and one of the simplest habits to keep a site running safely.<\/p>\n
The person carrying out pre-use checks needs to be a competent, trained person, and usually the responsibility falls mainly to the person who is using it, in this case, the operator. However, as it is an HSE regulation under PUWER 1998 (regulation 6), it states that all pre-use checks should be carried out by a trained, competent person who has the necessary knowledge. Records of inspections must be made and kept for a set period.<\/p>\n
A responsible person, usually the site manager, needs to make sure those pre-use checks are being carried out correctly and that the team has what they need: the time, the guidance, and somewhere to record them. A team that checks as routine is a safer, more productive one.<\/p>\n
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The pre-use check is the everyday visual check of equipment carried out by a trained competent and authorised person on-site. Formal inspections are carried out by inspectors on a set schedule. PUWER for work equipment generally, and LOLER thorough examinations for lifting equipment and accessories, carried out at least every six months. One doesn’t replace the other: pre-use checks keep an eye on things between examinations. (For the exact legal requirements for your kit, always check current HSE guidance.)<\/p>\n
It is, and it can be an important area that people miss. Operators are trained on the machine, the excavator, forklift, crane, but the attachment \u2013 what\u2019s \u2018below the hook\u2019 often isn’t something everyone’s trained on. Products that look the same and do the same job can differ, with different guidance from different manufacturers. So, the machine being signed off on doesn’t mean the attachment’s been looked at. Both need their own checks.<\/p>\n
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