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31 August 2005 - HSE Advises Correct Use of
Gas Forges
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), investigating complaints
relating to flame failure devices (FFD) on gas forges, have advised that an FFD
should not be overridden by operators.
Employers, including self-employed, have a duty under the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) to ensure work
equipment complies with standards set out in the Regulations.
Gas appliances must therefore, during ignition and extinction of
flames, be correctly constructed to avoid any build-up of gas and that an FFD be
fitted, thus shutting gas off if not burning.
However, operators of gas forges may override the FFD if high
winds cause the burning gas to go out causing a potential highly dangerous
situation to occur.
Mr. Tony Mitchell, from HSE's Agriculture Safety Section
commented:
"HSE cannot condone in any way the deliberate overriding of
FFDs and certainly expects that whenever these types of forges are used in a
workroom the FFD must be operating correctly. Should an incident occur, as well
as risking serious injury, the forge operator could face legal and civil action
which might well jeopordise the business.
"When choosing a gas furnace, users should check for evidence that the
equipment meets basic safety standards. If work in the open air is envisaged and
the FFD is likely to cause problems, the use of cowls and wind breaks should be
considered. Manufacturers of mobile forges can also help by looking at their
designs to minimise the problem."
The HSE have a simple guide to the PUWER Regulations available
in pdf format and can be accessed by clicking the following:
Simple Guide to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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