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"PSSR inspection" turns up on compliance checklists and insurance paperwork, often without much explanation of what the inspection actually is or what it covers. Here is a plain explanation of what a PSSR inspection involves, what a competent person checks, and why it matters for anyone running pressure equipment. What Is a PSSR Inspection? A PSSR inspection, properly called a thorough examination, is a statutory safety examination of a pressure system. A competent person c

A lot of businesses assume PSSR is something only large industrial sites have to worry about. In practice the trigger is simpler than that, and it bites before you even switch the system on. Here is when PSSR is required, when you specifically need a written scheme, and the timing that catches people out. When Is PSSR Required? PSSR is required whenever a pressure system used at work contains a relevant fluid above 0.5 bar, which includes steam, compressed air and other gas

If an insurer or the HSE has told you that you need a "PSSR certificate", you have probably gone looking for a single document to order. The honest first thing to know is that no such single certificate exists. Here is what you actually need, what the documents really are, and the steps to get them. How Do You Get a PSSR Certificate? There is no single PSSR certificate. To be compliant you need two things: a written scheme of examination drawn up by a competent person, and

Working out whether your equipment falls under PSSR trips up a lot of businesses, because the line is not really about the machine. It is about the fluid inside it and the energy that fluid stores. Here is what PSSR covers, the equipment it catches, and the things it leaves out. What Equipment Does PSSR Cover? PSSR covers pressure systems used at work that contain a relevant fluid above 0.5 bar: steam at any pressure, compressed or liquefied gas including air, and pressuris

A compressor that runs fine day after day rarely feels like a safety risk, so it is easy to assume the annual service has it covered. For most compressors, the law says otherwise. Here is a straight answer on whether air compressors need to be inspected, when the duty applies, and why a service is not the same thing. Do Air Compressors Need to Be Inspected? Yes. Most air compressors must be inspected by law under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR). If the air

If your workplace uses any kind of dust or fume extraction, "LEV testing" is a term that turns up on compliance checklists and insurance paperwork, often without much explanation of what it actually means. Here is a plain explanation of what LEV testing is, what the inspection covers, and why it matters for the people working around the equipment. What Is LEV Testing? LEV testing, formally a thorough examination and test (TExT), is a statutory inspection of a local exhaust

Plenty of businesses treat LEV testing as a once-a-year job, or assume the 14-month figure they have heard is a target to aim for. Neither is quite right, and getting it wrong leaves a gap in both your compliance and your workers' protection. Here is how often LEV testing should be done, when it needs doing more often, and how to set the right interval for your system. How Often Should LEV Testing Be Done? For most systems, LEV testing must be done at least every 14 months

A failed LEV inspection means downtime, remedial costs, and a compliance gap you have to close in a hurry. The frustrating part is that most failures are avoidable, and usually come down to maintenance that slipped or paperwork that went missing. Here is how to pass an LEV inspection, and the common reasons systems fail when they should not. How Do You Pass an LEV Inspection? To pass an LEV inspection, keep the system well maintained, make sure the original performance data

If your business runs any kind of dust or fume extraction, it is worth knowing whether testing it is genuinely required or just sensible housekeeping. The answer is firmer than a lot of owners expect, and getting it wrong carries real consequences. Here is a straight answer on whether LEV testing is a legal requirement, what the law asks of you, and what happens if you ignore it. Is LEV Testing a Legal Requirement? Yes. LEV testing is a legal requirement under the Control o

Welding fume can look like a minor nuisance, the sort of thing a fan in the corner will deal with. It is not. It is now a recognised cause of cancer, and the rules around controlling it changed sharply in 2019. Here is whether your welding workshop needs fume extraction, why, and what actually counts as adequate. Should Welding Workshops Have Fume Extraction? Yes. Since 2019, the HSE has required suitable fume extraction, usually local exhaust ventilation (LEV), for all ind

A fume cupboard only does its job if it actually pulls hazardous fumes away from the person using it, and the only way to know it still does that is to test it. The trouble is that a cupboard can look perfectly fine while quietly underperforming. Here is how fume cupboards are tested, what gets measured, how often, and who is allowed to do it. How Are Fume Cupboards Tested? Fume cupboards are tested as part of a thorough examination and test, or TExT, carried out by a compe

If you work above ground level, or manage people who do, you will have seen WAHR mentioned in risk assessments and method statements. Here is what it stands for, what the regulations cover, and who they apply to, without the jargon. What Does WAHR Stand For? WAHR stands for the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It is the UK law covering any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury. There is no minimum height. It sits under the Health and Safety at Wor

Fall protection equipment is more than the harness. It is the lanyards, connectors, anchor points and fall arresters that go with it, and each has its own inspection rhythm. Getting any one of them wrong puts a worker at risk. Here is how often fall protection equipment should be inspected, broken down so you know exactly what is due and when. How Often Should Fall Protection Equipment Be Inspected? Fall protection equipment should be checked by the user before every use, a

It is easy to assume anyone sensible can check a harness or lanyard, or that the wearer's daily glance is enough. With kit that is the only thing stopping a fall, the rules are tighter than that. Here is who can inspect fall protection equipment, what the law means by competent, and the equipment that only the manufacturer is allowed to touch. Who Can Inspect Fall Protection Equipment? Fall protection equipment must be inspected by a competent person, someone with the trainin

Ladders look too simple to fuss over, which is exactly why they are behind such a large share of fall injuries at work. The advice online does not help, with some sources insisting on every three months and others every twelve. Here is how often ladders actually need inspecting, who should do it, and the truth about those fixed intervals. How Often Should Ladders Be Inspected? Ladders should be given a pre-use check by the user before each working day, and a recorded detail

A safety harness is the one thing standing between a worker and the ground, so how often it gets inspected genuinely matters. The advice online is muddled, with some sources saying six months and others twelve. Here is the actual UK inspection regime for a safety harness, how often each type of check is needed, and when a harness has to be replaced rather than inspected. How Often Should a Harness Be Inspected? A safety harness should be checked by the user before every use

If you run vans for work, it is easy to get tangled up over which rules apply. You have the MOT, you have road traffic law, and then someone mentions PUWER and you are not sure where it fits. Here is a straight answer on whether a company van is covered under PUWER, how it overlaps with road traffic law, and what you actually need to do. Company van, covered by PUWER (technically) Is a Company Van Covered Under PUWER? Yes, in principle. A company van is work equipment, so P

On a working site, materials are constantly being moved, cut, crushed and lifted, and the equipment doing it sits firmly under PUWER. That brings duties most site managers never quite pin down. Here is how PUWER affects the way materials are handled on site, the hazards it makes you control, and where businesses tend to slip up. Roller, covered under PUWER How Does PUWER Impact On-Site Materials? PUWER does not regulate the materials themselves, but it governs the equipment

Most business owners want a simple answer here: check the kit every six or twelve months and move on. PUWER does not work like that, and assuming it does is how equipment ends up either over-inspected or quietly overdue. Here is how often equipment actually needs checking under PUWER, and how to set an interval that holds up. Pallet truck, covered by PUWER How Often Is Equipment Checked Under PUWER? There is no fixed interval under PUWER. Unlike LOLER, it does not set a six

A lot of businesses assume any engineer, or anyone handy, can carry out a PUWER inspection. Sometimes that is fine. For higher-risk machinery, it can land you in trouble. The rules depend on the equipment and on who is doing the checking. Here is exactly who can carry out PUWER inspections, what the law means by competent, and where the line sits. Crusher, covered by PUWER Who Can Carry Out PUWER Inspections? PUWER inspections must be carried out by a competent person. For