
The coronavirus outbreak this year brought with it multiple problems for employers and employees alike. Amongst the many issues that duty holders have had to get to grips with, is what to do about scheduled tests and examinations of work equipment.
The law requires that equipment is adequately tested and in the case of lifting equipment, there are specific intervals laid down in codes of practice to establish a frequency. The difficulty for employers has been that the usual contractors may not be available (or able) to carry out the work and financially, there may be other priorities than the continued upkeep of equipment which, for the time being, is not being used.
To help resolve this conundrum, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued new guidance for duty holders and inspectors, setting out how to meet legal obligations in order to carry out thorough examination and testing of equipment during the coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak.