Posted By Stuart Nagle Chris. The work equipment regulations (see Regs, Regulation (1) Guidance Note 32) when existing work equipment is sold by one company to another and brough into use by the second company (after 1st Jan 93) it becomes 'new equipment' in the sense that it is covered as being 'brough into use' after the regulatory requirements require compliance. therefore, although the equipment is second-hand it it means that the pirchasing company needs to ensure it complies with the specific provisions of regulations 11 to 24 of the work equipment regs before putting it into use, but the equipment does not need to comply with the 'essential safety requirements' of acticle 100A Directives (see para 99 of the guidance notes) as the law in the respect is not retrospective. in order for the purchaser to do this, the supplier will need to ensure that the work equipment has all the relevant documents, plates, instructions etc etc as if it was new... or, if the purchaser is up to speed they are unlikely to purchase or will demand a severe cost reduction to cover obtaining all the relevant bits that the supplier should have provided. In this instance, some companies who produce machines, and I can advise from experience, charge hundreds of pounds for poor quality copies of machine operating instructions that a purchaser needs for machines that it has purchased without the relevant information etc.... regards... Stuart