Posted By Jim Gostick
Hello, can anyone clarify pressure systems in relation to my workplace please.

I am a factory manager and have annual inspections via an insurance company (R S & Alliance) as the 'competent person'. They leave the inspection report etc in relation to air receiver but do not specify on the report the the pipework and 'safety devices' have been checked. Am I forfilling my duties by the annual inspection or should I have additional 'competent persons' undertaking weekly inspection etc?

Posted By Martin Cope
Jim

Have a look at the following it may help.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Statutory Instruments 1999 No. 2001
The Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999
www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19992001.htm

Statutory Instrument 2000 No. 128
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20000128.htm

Written Schemes of Examinations
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg178.pdf

Martin

Posted By Peter Batty
Jim, the written scheme of examination will identify those parts of a system that require examintion and those parts that do not.
In most cases the smaller compressed air systems have the pipework excluded from examination by a Competent Person as it does not normally represent an area where a significant release of stored energy will occur.
(Check this in your written scheme, if an RSA one it will be a blue plastic folder with a red pressure guage type emblem on the front, there is a page with a list of excluded items, and there is also a "schedule" with a list of items that are examined).
If an item is excluded from examination, you still have a duty under regulation 12 to ensure that it is maintained in a safe condition.

Protective devices must never be written out of a scheme of examination.

I think that if you look at paragraph 9 on the inspection report there is a question printed on the left hand side of the report that says "Are all protective devices associated with this item in satisfactory condition ?" There should of course be a response "yes" if everthing is ok.

I hope this helps
Peter (Ex RSA Employee)