Rank: Forum user
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I work at a College where staff/students use looms etc for weaving/tapestry work.
Can anyone advise me if there are any space requirements/standards for this type of work e.g. how much space is required to undertake this task?
I have looked at the HSEs website and have the information from the welfare regulations - http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/roomspace.htm
Many thanks.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Roz, nothing springs to mind, but you might want to have a look at the old Factories Act for some guidance as opposed to existing legislation, or contact Quarry Bank Mill which operates looms as a heritage attraction & they may be able to assist.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Roz, Specific distances were removed from advice or direction when the 1974 Act came in. Prior to this if the regulation said a machine needed 4 feet around it and you had 4 feet and 1 inch it was good, 3 feet and 11 inches was not.
It is down to your risk assessments. Space should be 'adequate', under the general responsibilities and risk assessments. I was in a similar environment with growing student numbers and more machines being desired, if you can get a session around a machine with the lecturers and support staf you can work separation needs out. We were heading for more isolation with one operator inside a barriered off area to minimise the risk to others and the operator.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Roz
How sure are you that you are interpreting the issue appropriately? Unless you do a thorough task analysis, with people with contrasting bodyshapes, there's no way you can gather information validly on the hazards and risks involved, surely! If you read 'Bodyspace', by Stephene Pheasant and Christine Hazlegave, 3rd edition. CRC Press, 2017, you can find upper and lower limits of males and females you can use to calculate defendable space limits.
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