Hi,

New to the forums.Hoping someone can advise. An employee in my organisation is planning putting togeher a steel plate bender together by himself, instead of the company buying one due to cost. Obviously I have my concerns, he is a general handy man/R&D technician, and I am confident with his ability and the drawings shown that have been shown that it will function correctly (Its a fairly simple concept). The device will be clamped on each side using a vice, and a self propelled handle to bend the thin steel. Anyway, the question I am asking is if we carried out a PUWER assessment to ensure it met all applicable PUWER regulations, a risk assessment and approriate training was given could this be used? This is the first time while working here the guys have looked at the 'home-made' route. Thanks.

Originally Posted by: Bigmac1

A chain is a machine!! just to add to your woes sorry lol

Yes, but only if it is lifting a load or is powered. The same goes for “linked parts or components, at least one of which moves". As below. My bold and Underlining to aid the point. So I still do not think that a human power plate bender is a machine as defined by “The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008”. On my training course there was much discussion about an old fashioned manual whisk  ( with the crank handle on the side with a crown and pinion gear) is not a machine as defined.

Products to which Regulations apply; definition of “machinery”

4.—(1) These Regulations apply—

(a)to products in respect of which the following conditions are satisfied—

(i)that they fall within one of the descriptions of products specified in paragraph (2);

(ii)that they do not fall within any of the categories of products specified in Schedule 3 as being products to which these Regulations do not apply;

(iii)that they are placed on the market or put into service on or after 29th December 2009; and

(iv)that these Regulations are not disapplied in respect of them by regulation 5; and

(b)to partly completed machinery, as defined in regulation 6.

(2) The following descriptions of products are specified in this paragraph—

(a)assemblies which fall within one of the following descriptions—

(i)an assembly, fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system other than directly applied human or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application;

(ii)an assembly as referred to in sub-paragraph (i), missing only the components to connect it on site or to sources of energy and motion;

(iii)an assembly as referred to in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii), ready to be installed and able to function as it stands only if mounted on a means of transport, or installed in a building or structure;

(iv)assemblies of machinery as referred to in sub-paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) or partly completed machinery, which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole;

(v)an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves and which are joined together, intended for lifting loads and whose only power source is directly applied human effort;