Introduction to machinery safety

New machines must be UKCA marked or CE marked and supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and instructions in English.

From 1 January 2025, new machinery that is only CE marked will no longer be acceptable in Great Britain. You can find more information on this change from the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

As an employer, you should consider how your workers use machinery. You should also have adequate maintenance arrangements in place to ensure it remains safe to use.

Moving machinery can cause injuries in many ways.

Injuries can also occur when:

Before you or your workers use any machine, you should think about what risks may occur and how these can be managed. Check the machine is complete, with all safeguards fitted, and free from defects. The term 'safeguarding' includes guards, interlocks, two-hand controls, light guards, pressure-sensitive mats etc.

By law, the supplier must provide the right safeguards and inform buyers of any risks ('residual risks') that could not be designed out. Users need to be aware of these and manage them.

Make sure you identify and manage risks from badly designed safeguards. These may be inconvenient to use or easily overridden, which could encourage your workers to risk injury and break the law. If they are doing this, find out why and take appropriate action to manage this.

Produce a safe system of work for using and maintaining the machine. Maintenance may require the inspection of critical features where deterioration would cause a risk.

Look at any residual risks listed in the information provided with the machine. Make sure they are included in the safe system of work.

Ensure every static machine has been installed properly and is stable (usually fixed down).

Do not put machines where customers or visitors may be exposed to risk.

Make sure you identify and manage risks from electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic power supplies.

Make sure the machine is:

Think about how you can make a machine safe. The measures you use to prevent access to dangerous parts should be in the following order. In some cases it may be necessary to use a combination of these measures:

If machines are controlled by programmable electronic systems, changes to any programmes should be carried out by a competent person (someone who has the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work safely). Keep a record of such changes and check they have been made properly.

Ensure control switches are clearly marked to show what they do.

Have emergency stop controls where necessary, for example mushroom-head push buttons, within easy reach.

Make sure operating controls are designed and placed to avoid accidental operation and injury, for example by using two-hand controls where necessary and shrouding start buttons and pedals.

Do not let unauthorised, unqualified or untrained people use machinery – never allow children to operate or help at machines. Some vulnerable workers, such as new starters, young people or those with disabilities, may be particularly at risk and need instruction, training and supervision.

Adequate training should ensure that those who use the machine are competent to use it safely. This includes ensuring they have the correct skills, knowledge and experience. Sometimes formal qualifications are needed, for example for chainsaw operators.

Supervisors must also be properly trained and competent to be effective. They may need extra specific training and there are recognised courses for supervisors.

Ensure the work area around the machine is kept clean and tidy, free from obstructions or slips and trips hazards, and well lit.

To ensure machinery is safe you should check the machine is well maintained and fit to be used. Make sure it is appropriate for the job, working properly and that all the safety measures are in place.

Examples of safety measures include guards, isolators, locking mechanisms and emergency off switches.

Use the machine properly and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Make sure you are wearing the appropriate protective clothing and equipment required for that machine, such as safety glasses, hearing protection and safety shoes.

Don't use a machine or appliance that has a danger sign or tag attached to it. These signs should only be removed by an authorised person who is satisfied that the machine or process is now safe.

Never wear dangling chains, loose clothing, rings or have loose, long hair that could get caught up in moving parts.

Don't distract people who are using machines.

Never remove any safeguards, even if they seem to make the job more difficult.

A company were prosecuted after a worker received horrific injuries, almost severing their left arm when using a cross-cut saw.

The nose guard had not been set correctly because training was inadequate. The worker had no previous experience and had only 5 minutes' training on the saw. This did not include any instruction about the saw guards and how to adjust them properly. The saw was also unsuitable for training purposes.

A company were prosecuted after a worker was killed when they were crushed in the rollers of a rubber and cloth inspection machine.

The company had not assessed the risks associated with using the machine. They had not checked that it was safe to use following modifications when the nip guards were removed and an unguarded roller was inserted.

The aim of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) is to ensure that work equipment is safe to use, regardless of its age, condition or origin.

PUWER places duties on employers and others who control how work equipment is used. This includes those who hire it out to be used by others.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) apply to the safe use of lifting equipment.