Posted By Stuart Nagle People normally providing their own tools for work need to have them checked routinely by their employers to ensure they are in satisfactory condition and safe to use. In many instances tools are 'invented by employees (a certain janitor and the term hoover comes to mind) that adequately serve the purpose intended and are as safe to use if no safer than other tools or methodology employed. I would suggest the right course of action would be risk assessment and comparisson with other types of similar equipment in the terms of reasonable practicallity... Provided the tool works, is safe, and does not cause other hazards to be raised in use that cannot be controlled by other methods or use of PPE, I guess the tools is OK. Who knows, perhaps the chap is on a winner and you should ask him to remember your risk evaluation when he makes it big-time... Stuart

Posted By Lynne Ratcliffe Tim, We have had to build and manufacture a number of items over the years to do a variety of things ie lifting, load bearing, shifting and splitting. We have approached our insurance company/companies who have 'experts' that have given us advice to ensure that we comply with PUWER, LOLER, CE marking etc. That way we have ensured compliance and insurance cover in one hit. Good luck,