New regulations on woodworking machines, abrasive wheels and abrasive blasting of surfaces have been published today and will come into force on July 1st.

The new regulations are being brought into force as part of the General Application Regulations. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2016 (SI 36/2016) introduce three new parts and two new schedules to the General Application Regulations:

Part 11: Woodworking Machines
Part 12: Abrasive Wheels
Part 13: Abrasive Blasting of Surfaces
Schedule 13: Woodworking Machines
Schedule 14: Training and Instruction.

The new regulations repeal the following:

Factories (Woodworking Machinery) Regulations 1972 (SI 203/1972)
Factories (Abrasive Blasting of Surfaces) Regulations 1974 (SI 357/1974)
Safety in Industry (Abrasive Wheels) Regulations 1982 (SI 30/1982).

WOODWORKING MACHINES REGULATIONS

The new regulations include definitions and cover space around machines, guarding and protection, maintenance of machines, dust, circular sawing machines, band sawing machines, planing machines and vertical spindle machines. The full list of machines is set out in schedule 13. There are provisions on training, instruction and information.

ABRASIVE WHEELS REGULATIONS

The new regulations include definitions. The regulations apply to the use of any abrasive wheel for grinding or cutting at a place of work. The regulations deal with the use of abrasive wheels, speed of revolution, mounting of abrasive wheels and guarding and rests for workplaces and flanges. Schedule 14 deals with training and instruction.

ABRASIVE BLASTING OF SURFACES REGULATIONS

Again the regulations include definitions. The regulations apply to all places of work in which blasting is done, with the exception of blasting enclosures for cleaning of castings, , enclosures, blasting apparatus and ventilating plant. The regulations provide for the provision of blasting apparatus, enclosures, ventilating plant. The regulations include rules on the prohibition of silica, the protection of employees and other persons and also of persons under 18.

Following the enactment of the new regulations, the General Application Regulations will in future be cited as the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations 2007 to 2016. Both the HSA and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation are to be congratulated on bringing in the regulations as part of the General Application Regulations. It is a welcome easing of the administrative burden, without impacting on the protection of workers.

The regulations are available to download on the Department’s website here

Source: Health & Safety Review