Advanced Search

Royal Decree 1215 / 1997 Of 18 July, Establishing The Minimum Requirements For Safety And Health For The Use By Workers Of The Work Teams.

Original Language Title: Real Decreto 1215/1997, de 18 de julio, por el que se establecen las disposiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud para la utilización por los trabajadores de los equipos de trabajo.

Subscribe to a Global-Regulation Premium Membership Today!

Key Benefits:

Subscribe Now for only USD$40 per month.

TEXT

Law 31/1995 of 8 November on the Prevention of Occupational Risks determines the basic body of guarantees and precise responsibilities to establish an adequate level of protection of workers ' health against the risks arising from working conditions, in the framework of a coherent, coordinated and effective policy. According to Article 6 of the Directive, the regulatory standards will be those which will be laid down and the most technical aspects of preventive measures.

Thus, it is the regulatory development rules that should set the minimum measures to be taken for the proper protection of workers. These include those designed to ensure that the presence or use of the work equipment made available to workers in the undertaking or workplace does not lead to risks to the safety or health of workers. same.

Likewise, Convention number 119 of the International Labour Organization of 25 June 1963, ratified by Spain on 26 November 1971, lays down various provisions concerning the protection of machinery, aimed at avoiding risks to the physical integrity of workers. Also, the Convention No. 155 of the International Labour Organization of 22 June 1981, ratified by Spain on 26 July 1985, lays down in its Articles 5, 11, 12 and 16 various provisions relating to machinery and other equipment work to prevent the risks of accidents and other damage to workers ' health.

In the same sense, it must be borne in mind that, in the context of the European Union, the general criteria for action in the field of health and safety in the institutions have been laid down by the relevant Directives. as well as specific criteria for measures to protect against accidents and situations of risk. In particular, Directive 89 /655/EEC of 30 November, as amended by Directive 95 /63/EC of 5 December 1993, lays down the minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of the work of the equipment of the work. This Royal Decree provides for the transposition into Spanish law of the abovementioned Directives.

Under Article 6 of Law 31/1995 of 8 November on the Prevention of Occupational Risks, on the proposal of the Ministers for Labour and Social Affairs and Industry and Energy, consulted on the more representative employers 'and employers' organisations, heard by the National Committee on Safety and Health at Work, in agreement with the Council of State and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 18 July 1997,

D I S P O N G O:

Article 1. Object.

1. This Royal Decree establishes, within the framework of Law 31/1995, of 8 November, of the Prevention of Occupational Risks, the minimum requirements for the safety and health for the use of the work equipment employed by the workers in the job.

2. The provisions of Royal Decree 39/1997 of 17 January 1997 on the Regulation of the Prevention Services shall apply in full to the whole of the field referred to in the preceding paragraph, without prejudice to the provisions of this Regulation. specific contained in this Royal Decree.

Article 2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this Royal Decree:

a) Work equipment: any machine, apparatus, instrument or installation used in the work.

(b) Use of a work team: any activity related to a work team, such as commissioning or detention, employment, transport, repair, transformation, maintenance and conservation, including, in particular, cleaning.

(c) A hazardous area: any area within or around a work team in which the presence of an exposed worker poses a risk to their safety or health.

d) Exposed worker: any worker who is fully or partially in a hazardous area.

e) Team operator: the worker in charge of the use of a work team.

Article 3. General obligations of the employer.

1. The employer shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the work equipment which is made available to the workers is appropriate to the work to be carried out and suitably adapted to it in such a way as to ensure safety and health of workers when using such work equipment.

Where it is not possible to ensure in this way the safety and health of workers during the use of work equipment, the employer shall take appropriate measures to reduce such risks to a minimum.

In any case, the employer must use only equipment that satisfies:

(a) Any legal or regulatory provision that applies to them.

(b) The general conditions set out in Annex I to this Royal Decree.

2. For the choice of work equipment, the employer must take into account the following factors

a) The specific conditions and characteristics of the job to be developed.

(b) The existing risks to the safety and health of workers at the workplace and, in particular, to jobs, as well as the risks arising from the presence or use of such equipment or be aggravated by them.

(c) Where appropriate, the adaptations necessary for their use by disabled workers.

3. For the purposes of applying the minimum safety and health requirements laid down in this Royal Decree, the employer shall take account of the ergonomie principles, in particular as regards the design of the job and the position of the employees. workers during the use of the work equipment.

4. The use of work equipment shall comply with the general conditions set out in Annex II to this Royal Decree.

When, in order to avoid or control a specific risk to the safety or health of workers, the use of a work equipment must be carried out in particular conditions or forms, requiring a particular The employer shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the use of such equipment is reserved for the designated workers.

5. The employer shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, by appropriate maintenance, the work equipment is kept for the entire time of use under such conditions as to satisfy the provisions of the second subparagraph of the paragraph 1. Such maintenance shall be carried out in the light of the manufacturer's instructions or, failing that, the characteristics of such equipment, its conditions of use and any other normal or exceptional circumstances which may affect its deterioration or mismatch.

Operations for the maintenance, repair or transformation of work equipment whose performance poses a specific risk to workers may only be entrusted to specially trained staff.

Article 4. Checking the work teams.

1. The employer shall take the necessary measures to ensure that those working teams whose safety is dependent on their installation conditions are subject to an initial check, after installation and prior to the start up, and to a new check after each assembly in a new location or site in order to ensure the correct installation and proper functioning of the equipment.

2. The employer shall take the necessary measures to ensure that work equipment subject to influences which may cause deterioration which may lead to dangerous situations may be subject to checks and, where appropriate, evidence of a in order to ensure compliance with the safety and health provisions and to remedy such deterioration in time.

Similarly, additional checks should be carried out on such equipment whenever exceptional occurrences occur, such as transformations, accidents, natural phenomena or prolonged lack of use, which may have harmful consequences for security.

3. The checks shall be carried out by competent staff.

4. The results of the checks shall be documented and made available to the labour authority. These results must be kept for the entire lifetime of the equipment.

When the work teams are employed outside the company, they must be accompanied by a material test of the completion of the last check.

5. The requirements and conditions for the verification of the work equipment shall be in accordance with the specific rules applicable to them.

Article 5. Training and information obligations.

1. In accordance with Articles 18 and 19 of the Law on the Prevention of Occupational Risks, the employer must ensure that workers and workers ' representatives receive adequate training and information on the risks arising from the risk of the use of the work equipment, as well as the prevention and protection measures to be taken in application of this Royal Decree.

2. The information, preferably provided in writing, shall contain at least the particulars relating to:

(a) The correct conditions and form of use of the work equipment, taking into account the instructions of the manufacturer, as well as the abnormal and dangerous situations or forms of use that may be foreseen.

(b) The conclusions which, where appropriate, can be obtained from the experience acquired in the use of the work equipment.

c) Any other preventive utility information.

The information must be comprehensible to the workers to whom it is addressed and must be included or presented in the form of information brochures where necessary due to their volume or complexity or the infrequent use of the information. equipment. The information documentation provided by the manufacturer shall be available to the workers.

3. In addition, workers will be informed of the need to pay attention to the risks arising from work equipment present in their immediate working environment, or of the modifications made to them, even if they do not use directly.

4. The workers referred to in Article 3 (4) and (5) of this Royal Decree shall be given appropriate specific training.

Article 6. Consultation and participation of workers.

The consultation and participation of workers or their representatives on the matters referred to in this Royal Decree shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 (2) of the Law on the Prevention of Occupational Risks.

Single transient arrangement. Adaptation of work equipment.

1. The work teams, which at the date of entry into force of this Royal Decree are at the disposal of the workers in the undertaking or working centre, must comply with the requirements laid down in Annex I, paragraph 1, within the twelve months from the said entry into force.

However, where in certain sectors for specific objective situations of their sufficiently accredited work equipment, the time limit laid down in the preceding paragraph, the labour authority, on request cannot be met. (a) the most representative business organisations in the sector, and after consulting the most representative trade union organisations in the sector, may exceptionally authorise a plan for the implementation of the work teams of the duration not exceeding five years, taking into account gravity, transcendence and the importance of the factual situation alleged. Such a plan must be submitted to the labour authority within the maximum period of nine months from the entry into force of this Royal Decree and shall be resolved within a period of not more than three months, with the absence of a resolution expressing effect destimatorium.

The implementation of the Puesta Plan in Conformity to the companies concerned will be made by applying them to the labour authority for approval and must specify the consultation of the workers ' representatives, the seriousness, significance and importance of the technical problems which prevent compliance with the deadline set, the details of the implementation and the alternative preventive measures to ensure adequate safety and security conditions; health of the affected jobs.

In the case of work equipment used in mining operations, the functions recognised by the labour authority in the preceding paragraphs shall be carried out by the competent public administrations in the field of mines.

2. The work equipment referred to in Annex I, paragraph 2, which is available to workers at the undertaking or working centre on 5 December 1998, shall be adjusted within a maximum of four years from the date of the date of entry into force. (i) the minimum requirements laid down in that

.

Single repeal provision. Regulatory repeal.

Any provisions of equal or lower rank shall be repealed as opposed to the provisions of this Royal Decree and, expressly, Chapters VIII, IX, X, XI and XII of Title II of the General Ordinance on Safety and Hygiene at Work, approved by Order of 9 March 1971, without prejudice to the provisions of the transitional provision and the second final provision.

Final disposition first. Technical Guide.

The National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 (3) of Royal Decree 39/1997 of 17 January, approving the Regulation of the Prevention Services, draw up and keep up to date a non-binding technical guide for the assessment and prevention of risks related to the use of work equipment.

Final disposition second. Powers of development.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs is authorized, after a favorable report of the Industry and Energy, and prior report of the National Commission on Safety and Health at Work, to dictate how many provisions are necessary. for the implementation and development of this Royal Decree, as well as for the strictly technical adaptations of its Annexes in the light of technical progress and the evolution of international standards or specifications or of knowledge in the field of work equipment.

Final disposition third. Entry into force.

This Royal Decree shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Gazette of the State, with the exception of paragraph 2 of Annex I and paragraphs 2 and 3 of Annex II which shall enter into force on 5 December 1998.

Given in Madrid to July 18, 1997.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The First Vice President of the Government and Minister of the Presidency,

FRANCISCO ALVEZ-HELMETS FERNANDEZ

ANNEX I

Minimum provisions applicable to work teams

Preliminary Observation

The following provisions will only apply if the work team gives rise to the type of risk for which the corresponding measure is specified.

In the case of work equipment already in service on the date of entry into force of this Royal Decree, the application of these provisions will not necessarily require the adoption of the same measures as the applied to new work teams.

1. General minimum requirements for work equipment

1. The operating organs of a working team having an impact on safety shall be clearly visible and identifiable and, where appropriate, indicated with appropriate signage.

The actuation organs must be located outside the hazardous areas, except, if necessary, in the case of certain actuation organs, and in such a way that their handling cannot cause additional risks. They shall not carry risks as a result of inadvertent manipulation.

If necessary, the equipment operator must be able to check from the main command post of the absence of persons in the hazardous areas. If this is not possible, the start-up must always be automatically preceded by an alert system, such as an audible or visual warning signal. The exposed worker must have sufficient time and means to quickly subtract from the risks caused by the start up or the detention of the work team.

Command systems shall be safe and choose to take account of possible failures, disturbances and foreseeable requirements under the intended conditions of use.

2. The implementation of a work team can only be carried out by voluntary action on an operating organ provided for this purpose.

The same will happen for start-up after a stop, whatever the cause of the stop, and to introduce an important modification in the operating conditions (e.g. speed, pressure, etc.), except if such start-up or modification does not present any risk to the exposed workers or is resulting from the normal sequence of an automatic cycle.

3. Each work equipment must be fitted with an operating organ that allows for its total stop under safety conditions.

Each job will be provided with an operating organ that allows to stop depending on the existing risks, or all the work equipment or a part of it only, so that the equipment is in security situation. The work team's stop order will take precedence over commissioning orders. Once the work equipment or its hazardous elements have been stopped, the power supply of the operating organs concerned shall be interrupted.

If necessary depending on the risks involved in a work equipment and the normal stopping time, such equipment shall be provided with an emergency stop device.

4. Any work equipment that is at risk of falling objects or projections shall be fitted with protective devices suitable for such risks.

5. Any work equipment that is at risk from gases, vapours or liquids or by dust emission shall be fitted with suitable collection or extraction devices near the corresponding source.

6. If necessary for the safety or health of workers, work equipment and its components must be stabilised by fixation or by other means. Work equipment whose intended use requires workers to be placed on them must have adequate means to ensure that access and permanence on such equipment does not pose a risk to their safety and health. In particular, where there is a risk of a height fall of more than 2 metres, they must have rigid railings of a minimum height of 90 centimetres or of any other system providing equivalent protection.

7. In cases where there is a risk of an explosion or break of elements of a work equipment which may significantly affect the safety or health of workers, appropriate protective measures must be taken.

8. Where the movable elements of a work equipment may involve accident hazards by mechanical contact, they must be equipped with guards or devices which prevent access to dangerous areas or stop dangerous manoeuvres before access to these areas.

Guards and protective devices:

a) They will be solid and resilient manufacturing.

b) They will not cause additional risks.

c) It should not be easy to override or put them out of service.

d) They must be located sufficient distance from the hazardous area.

e) They should not limit more than the required or necessary work cycle observation.

(f) They must allow the necessary interventions for the placement or replacement of the tools, and for the maintenance work, limiting the access only to the sector in which the work is to be carried out without remove, if possible, the guard or protective device.

9. The areas and points of work or maintenance of a work team shall be adequately illuminated according to the tasks to be performed.

10. Parts of a work equipment that reach high or very low temperatures shall be protected where appropriate against the risks of contact or the proximity of workers.

11. The alarm devices of the work equipment shall be easily and easily understood and unambiguously understandable.

12. All work equipment must be fitted with clearly identifiable devices that allow the separation of each of its energy sources.

13. The work team must take the necessary warnings and signs to ensure the safety of workers.

14. All work equipment must be suitable for the protection of workers against the risks of fire, of heating of the equipment itself or of fumes, powders, liquids, vapours or other substances produced, used or stored by this. Work equipment which is used in an aggressive climate or industrial environment which poses a risk to the safety and health of workers, must be put up for work in such environments and must have, where appropriate, appropriate protective systems, such as cabins or other.

15. All work equipment must be adequate to prevent the risk of explosion, both of the work equipment and of the substances produced, used or stored by it.

16. All work equipment shall be suitable for the protection of workers exposed to the risk of direct or indirect contact with electricity. In any case, the electrical parts of the work equipment shall comply with the provisions of the relevant specific rules.

17. Any work equipment involving noise, vibration or radiation risks shall have the appropriate protection or devices to limit, as far as possible, the generation and spread of such physical agents.

18. Work equipment for the storage, handling or treatment of corrosive or high temperature liquids shall have adequate protection to avoid accidental contact of workers with the same.

19. The hand tools must be constructed with resistant materials and the union between the elements must be firm so as to avoid the breakages or projections thereof. Their handles or handles shall be of appropriate dimensions, without sharp edges or slippery surfaces, and insulators if necessary.

2. Additional minimum requirements for certain work equipment

1. Minimum requirements for mobile work equipment, whether or not self-propelled:

(a) Mobile work equipment with transported workers must be adapted in such a way as to reduce the risks to workers or workers during displacement.

Among these risks should be the contact of workers with wheels and caterpillars and prisoners by them.

(b) Where the unforeseen blockage of the power transmission elements between a mobile work equipment and its accessories or trailers may cause specific risks, such equipment shall be equipped or adapted in such a way as to prevent such a lock.

When the blockade cannot be prevented, all necessary measures must be taken to avoid the harmful consequences for workers.

(c) Provision should be made for the means of fixing the power transmission elements between mobile work equipment where there is a risk of such elements becoming bogged down or deteriorating as they are dragged down the ground.

(d) In mobile work equipment with transported workers, the risks caused by an inclination or by a rollover of the work equipment must be limited, under the effective conditions of use, by any of the following measures:

1. A protective structure that prevents the work equipment from tipping more than a quarter back.

2. A structure that ensures sufficient space around the worker or workers transported when the equipment can be tilted more than a quarter back.

3. Any other device of equivalent scope.

These protective structures may form an integral part of the work team.

These protective structures will not be required when the work equipment is stabilized during its employment or when the design makes it impossible to tilt or dump the work equipment.

When in case of inclination or of a rollover there is for a worker transported risk of crushing between parts of the work equipment and the ground, a system of retention of the worker or workers must be installed transported.

e) The forklift trucks occupied by one or more workers shall be conditioned or equipped to limit the risk of overturning by measures such as the following:

1. The installation of a cab for the driver.

2. A structure that prevents the forklift from flying.

3. A structure to ensure that, in the event of a rollover of the forklift, there is sufficient space for the worker or workers transported between the ground and certain parts of the forklift.

4. A structure that keeps the worker or workers on the driving seat and prevents them from being trapped by parts of the overturned truck.

(f) Automotive mobile work equipment, the displacement of which may cause risks for workers, must meet the following conditions:

1. You must have the means to prevent unauthorized entry.

2. You must have the appropriate means to reduce the consequences of a possible collision in the event of simultaneous movement of several working teams that roll over rails.

3. A braking and stopping device shall be required; in so far as safety is required, an emergency device operated by means of easily accessible controls or by automatic systems shall permit the braking and stopping in case the main device fails.

4. You must have adequate auxiliary devices that improve visibility when the direct field of driver's vision is insufficient to ensure safety.

5. If they are intended for night use or in dark places, they must have a lighting device adapted to the work to be performed and ensure sufficient safety for the workers.

6. If there are risks of fire, for themselves or because of their trailers or loads, which may endanger workers, they shall have appropriate fire-fighting devices, except where the place of fire is Use is equipped with them at near enough points.

7. If they are handled remotely, they must be stopped automatically when they exit the control field.

8. If they are handled at a distance and if, under normal conditions of use, they may collide with or arrest workers, they must be equipped with protective devices against such risks, except where there are other appropriate devices to control the risk of shock.

(g) Work equipment which, by reason of its mobility or by the load which it travels, may pose a risk, under the intended conditions of use, for the safety of workers located in its vicinity, must be provided with of an audible warning signal.

2. Minimum requirements for work equipment for lifting loads:

(a) Work equipment for the lifting of loads must be firmly installed in the case of fixed equipment, or have the necessary elements or conditions in the remaining cases, to ensure their solidity and stability during employment, taking into account, in particular, the loads to be lifted and the stresses induced at the points of suspension or fixing to the structures.

(b) A clearly visible indication of its nominal load and, where appropriate, a load plate which provides the nominal load for each configuration of the machine shall be shown on the load lifting machines.

Lift accessories must be marked in such a way that the essential features for safe use can be identified.

If the work equipment is not intended for the lifting of workers and there is a possibility of confusion, appropriate signage must be affixed in a visible manner.

(c) Work equipment permanently installed must be installed in such a way as to reduce the risk of the load falling, being dropped or unintentionally deviated, or, for any other reason, hit the workers. (d) Machinery for lifting or posting workers must have the appropriate characteristics for:

1. Avoid, by means of appropriate devices, the risks of falling of the compartment, where such risks exist.

2. Avoid the risks of the user's fall outside the passenger compartment, when such risks exist.

3. Avoid the risks of crushing, tightening or shock of the user, especially those due to accidental contact with objects.

4. Ensure the safety of workers who in the event of an accident are blocked in the passenger compartment and allow their release.

If for reasons inherent to the place and at the level, the risks provided for in paragraph 1. above cannot be avoided by means of any safety device, a cable with a reinforced safety coefficient must be installed. good status will be checked every day of work.

ANNEX II

Provisions regarding the use of work equipment

Preliminary Observation

The provisions of this Annex shall apply where there is a corresponding risk for the work equipment concerned.

1. General conditions for the use of work equipment

1. The work equipment shall be installed, provided and used in such a way as to reduce the risks to the users of the equipment and to other workers.

It shall take into account the need for sufficient free space between the mobile elements of the work equipment and the fixed or mobile elements of their environment and which can be safely supplied or withdrawn the energies and substances used or produced by the equipment.

2. Workers must be able to access and remain in safe conditions in all places necessary to use, adjust or maintain work equipment.

3. Work equipment shall not be used in a manner or in operations or under conditions set out by the manufacturer. They shall also not be used without the protective elements provided for the operation in question.

Work equipment may only be used in form or in operations or under conditions not considered by the manufacturer if a prior assessment of the risks involved has been carried out and the measures taken relevant for removal or control.

4. Before using a work team, it will be verified that their protection and conditions of use are adequate and that their connection or commissioning does not represent a danger to third parties.

Work equipment shall cease to be used if deterioration, breakdowns or other circumstances that compromise the safety of its operation occur.

5. Where work equipment is used with accessible hazardous elements that cannot be fully protected, precautions should be taken and appropriate individual protections should be used to reduce the risks to the minimum possible.

In particular, the necessary measures must be taken to avoid, where appropriate, the trapping of hair, work clothes or other objects that the worker may carry.

6. Where, during the use of a work equipment, it is necessary to clean or remove waste close to a hazardous element, the operation must be carried out with the appropriate auxiliary means and ensure a sufficient safety distance.

7. Work equipment must be installed and used in such a way that it cannot fall, dump or move in an uncontrolled way, endangering the safety of workers.

8. Work equipment shall not be subjected to overloads, overpressures, speeds or excessive stresses which may endanger the safety of the worker using them or third-party workers.

9. Where the use of a work equipment may give rise to dangerous projections or radiation, either during normal operation or in the event of a foreseeable anomaly, appropriate prevention or protective measures shall be taken for the purposes of: ensure the safety of workers who use them or are in their vicinity.

10. Work equipment carried out or guided manually, the movement of which may be a danger to workers in the vicinity, shall be used with appropriate precautions, in any event a safety distance sufficient. To this end, the workers handling them must have adequate control and visibility conditions.

11. In special environments such as wet or high conductivity premises, premises with high risk of fire, explosive atmospheres or corrosive environments, no work equipment shall be used in this environment to pose a safety hazard. of the workers.

12. Work equipment that can be achieved by lightning during use shall be protected against its effects by appropriate devices or measures.

13. The assembly and disassembly of the work equipment shall be carried out in a safe manner, in particular by compliance with the manufacturer's instructions when the equipment is present.

14. The maintenance, adjustment, unblocking, checking or repair of work equipment which may pose a danger to the safety of workers shall be carried out after the equipment has been stopped or disconnected, lack of hazardous waste energy and have taken the necessary steps to prevent the operation or accidental connection while the operation is being carried out.

When stopping or disconnection is not possible, the necessary measures shall be taken to ensure that these operations are performed safely or outside the hazardous areas.

15. When a work team must have a maintenance journal, it will remain up to date.

16. Work equipment which is withdrawn from service must remain with its protective devices or the necessary measures must be taken to make it impossible to use. Otherwise, such equipment must remain with its protective devices.

17. Manual tools shall be of appropriate size and characteristics for the operation to be performed. Their placement and transport shall not entail risks to the safety of workers.

2. Conditions for the use of mobile work equipment, motor vehicles or not

1. The driving of automotive work equipment shall be reserved for workers who have received specific training for the safe driving of such work equipment.

2. Where a working team is working in a working area, appropriate rules of movement must be established and respected.

3. Organisational measures should be taken to prevent workers from being found on foot in the work area of automotive work equipment.

If the presence of workers is required on foot for the proper performance of the work, appropriate measures must be taken to prevent injuries from the equipment.

4. The monitoring of workers on mechanically moved mobile work equipment shall be authorised only in safe locations put up for that purpose. When jobs are to be performed during displacement, the speed must be adapted if necessary.

5. Mobile work equipment fitted with a combustion engine shall not be used in working areas, except where a sufficient quantity of air is guaranteed in areas which does not pose a risk to the safety and health of workers.

3. Conditions for the use of work equipment for lifting loads

1. Generalities:

(a) Unmountable or mobile work equipment used for the lifting of loads must be used in such a way as to ensure the stability of the equipment during its use under foreseeable conditions, taking into account the nature of the soil.

(b) The elevation of workers shall be permitted only by means of work equipment and accessories provided for this purpose.

However, where exceptional work equipment is to be used for this purpose, the appropriate measures must be taken to ensure the safety of workers and to provide for the provision of appropriate surveillance.

During the permanence of workers in work equipment designed to lift loads, the command post must be permanently occupied. High workers must have a secure means of communication and their evacuation must be planned in case of danger.

(c) Unless necessary to properly perform the work, measures must be taken to avoid the presence of workers under suspended loads.

You will not be allowed to pass the loads above unprotected workplaces, usually occupied by workers. If this is not possible, it is not possible to ensure that the work is properly carried out otherwise, appropriate procedures must be defined and applied.

(d) Lift fittings must be selected according to the loads being handled, the points of view, the coupling device and the atmospheric conditions, and taking into account the mode and the configuration of the mooring. Assembly of lifting accessories shall be clearly marked to allow the user to know their characteristics, if not disassembled after use.

e) Lift accessories must be stored so that they are not damaged or damaged.

2. Work equipment for lifting unguided loads.

(a) If two or more work equipment for the lifting of unguided loads are installed or assembled in a workplace in such a way that their fields of action overlap, appropriate measures must be taken to avoid collisions. between the loads or the elements of the equipment themselves.

(b) During the use of a mobile work equipment for the lifting of unguided loads, measures must be taken to prevent their balancing, overturning and, where appropriate, displacement and sliding. The correct implementation of these measures should be checked.

(c) If the operator of a work equipment for the lifting of unguided loads cannot observe the full journey of the load either directly or by means of the auxiliary devices which provide the useful information, it must appoint a signal officer in communication with the operator to guide the operator and organisational measures must be taken to avoid load collisions which may endanger workers.

(d) Work must be organised in such a way that, while a worker is hanging or dishanging a load by hand, he/she can safely perform these operations, ensuring in particular that the worker retains the control, direct or indirect, of the same.

e) All lifting operations must be properly planned, properly monitored and carried out in order to protect the safety of workers.

In particular, when two or more work equipment for the lifting of unguided loads must simultaneously raise a load, a procedure must be drawn up and applied in order to ensure good coordination of the operators.

f) If any work equipment for lifting unguided loads cannot maintain the load in case of partial or total power supply failure, appropriate measures must be taken to prevent workers from being expose them to the relevant risks.

The suspended loads must not be unguarded, except if access to the danger zone is impossible and if the load has been safely hung and is maintained in a completely safe manner.

(g) Outdoor employment of work equipment for the lifting of unguided loads shall cease when the meteorological conditions are degraded to the extent that they cause injury to the safety of the equipment and cause that way workers run risks. Appropriate protective measures should be taken, aimed in particular at preventing the dumping of the work equipment, in order to avoid risks to workers.