S.L. 646.24 Art. 5Inspection of work equipment.

(1) The employer shall ensure that where the safety of work equipment depends on the installation conditions, such equipment shall be subject to an initial inspection (after installation and before first being put into service) and an inspection after assembly at a new site or in a new location by competent persons, to ensure that the work equipment has been installed correctly and is operating properly.

(2) The employer shall ensure that work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is subject to -

(a) periodic inspections and, where appropriate, testing by competent persons,

(b) special inspections by competent persons each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardize the safety of the work equipment have occurred, such as modification work, accidents, natural phenomena or prolonged periods of inactivity, to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained and that the deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time.

(3) Where any defect is identified in any work equipment or in any safety device by any examination and test under this regulation and, in the opinion of the competent person carrying out the examination and test either -

(a) the said defect is a cause of danger to workers and in consequence the work equipment or safety device (as the case may be) ought not to be used until the said defect has been remedied;

(b) the said defect may become a cause of danger to workers and in consequence the work equipment or safety device (as the case may be) ought not to be used after the expiration of a specified period unless the said defect has been remedied, such defect shall, as soon as possible after the completion of the examination and test, be notified in writing by the competent person to the employer of the work place, in the case of a defect falling within paragraph (b) such notification shall include the period within which, in the opinion of the competent person, the defect ought to be remedied.

(4) The results of inspections must be recorded and kept by the employer for a minimum period of two years.

(5) When work equipment is used outside the undertaking it must be accompanied by physical evidence that the last inspection required to be carried out by these regulations, has been carried out.

(6) All inspection records shall be kept at the disposal of the Authority for inspection when so required.