How aware is the management in your business of the scope of current pressure regulations and the legal obligations of compliance? The failure of a piece of air compressor equipment can do far more than put a temporary halt to production. It can cause major damage to your premises, injure or even kill. On average there are 150 dangerous occurrences a year involving compressed air in the UK.
Does your compressed air system comply with legislation?
Any business using air compressor equipment is required to comply with legislation designed to ensure that equipment is tested, maintained and certified by a “competent person”. Many compressed air users may not fully realise that the operation of a compressed air system is subject to legal requirements.
Air compressor safety legislation and compliance post Brexit
The majority of UK health and safety regulations introduced over the past 30 years originated from the European Union. So, with Britain now preparing to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, it begs the question: What happens to the air compressor safety legislation and compliance post Brexit?
On the basis of what has been outlined so far, it appears, on the surface at least (and in the short term), that Brexit will have little impact on the health and safety laws of Britain, particularly as the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, or ‘Great Repeal Bill’ as it is sometimes called, intends to incorporate all EU legislation into UK law in one go to ensure a “calm and orderly” exit.
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
A key requirement of The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 is your compressed air system must have a suitable written scheme of examination – and ensure that the pressure system is examined in accordance with the written scheme of examination. If anyone in your organisation qualifies as a “competent person” within the definition (i.e. a chartered engineer on hand to inspect, produce and bind a written scheme of examination in accordance with the regulations) you can create a written scheme of examination. If not, you must get a “competent person” to provide one for your compressed air system.
Who is responsible if the compressed air system is on finance?
One of the most common questions ask of the British Compressed Air Society technical support line is to determine who is responsible for when Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 where an installed compressed air system is subject to lease or hire?
It’s normally the owner/user who is responsible for the regulations, but this can vary if pressure systems are leased or hired. In these cases, the supplier may agree in the contract to be responsible for discharging the duties of the user under all the provisions of regulations. So if your compressed air system is subject to lease or hire, you need to check this (We can help here).
