Health and Safety Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

08/08/2024 PPE for hydraulics: got it covered? A host of PPE advances and developments will help hydraulic system operators and maintenance teams reach new levels of safety and protection, says Steed Webzell » Read More

08/05/2024 All about machinery The EU’s Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 came into effect on 29 June 2023. This regulation replaces the previous Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and impacts manufacturers, importers and distributors in the machinery industry. Darren ... » Read More

09/04/2024 All about machinery safety Machinery safety is one of the most significant issues facing organisations today. It is equally as important as productivity and is essential for the wellbeing of everyone involved, says Darren Hugheston-Roberts, head of machinery safety ... » Read More

24/11/2022 When fasteners go wrong Taking machinery apart is a routine that every engineer knows – and often enjoys. But what if you can’t take it apart – if fasteners get stuck in place, or (worse) pull out of their fixings? » Read More

14/11/2022 Determining access rights for facilities Whether talking about a machine, robot, room or entire building, how is it best to ensure safety by restricting employee access? By Steed Webzell » Read More

14/03/2022 Workplace permitting and digital safety Yokogawa makes the case for a digital approach to safety management of plant operations, as it launches a new version of its RAP control-to-work software » Read More

14/01/2021 Measuring access platform safety A new report from a trade association brings together, for the first time, reports of incidents and accidents involving powered access platforms. The data pinpoints the key safety risks of these ever-more essential site machines » Read More

10/09/2020 Sensing safety: helping protect the public around rubbish collection vehicles Waste collectors take to the streets on a daily basis – picking up and disposing of household and industrial waste. Operating such large vehicles when pedestrians, cyclists and other motor users are around requires the utmost attention. ... » Read More

08/05/2019 Ploughing forward with safety Industry bodies are pushing ‘best practice’ to improve health and safety on farms. So, what are the issues for off-road agricultural vehicles and machinery and what safety checks should operators carry out? » Read More

02/05/2014 First of Jan IOSH chief Jan Chmiel speaks exclusively to Max Gosney about the dawn of a new era of clipboard-light health and safety and why it demands more enlightened manufacturing managers » Read More

05/06/2013 Accidents waiting to happen Common sense it may be, but all too often the use of machine guards falls way short of the legal standards. Brian Tinham talks to TÜV SÜD about problems and solutions. » Read More

01/08/2012 Accidents waiting to happen? Although blessed with one of the best industrial health and safety records on the planet, statistics reveal that the UK cannot afford to become complacent. Brian Tinham examines problems and solutions » Read More

05/04/2012 Safe operation of escalators and moving walks SAFed's guidelines for the safe operation of escalators and moving walks was published in May last year. In the first of a two-part feature, Vince Sharpe reviews key elements for owners and operators » Read More

06/10/2011 Laying down the law European directives are continuously forcing changes to UK legislation around health and safety. Brian Wall reports on what plant engineers and managers need to know » Read More

06/10/2011 Plant safety at any cost? Don't get me wrong: it's hard to argue with current moves to streamline health and safety legislation, in line with Lord Young's 'Common Sense, Common Safety' report – especially given that chief among the aims is to reduce the ... » Read More

08/08/2011 Health and Safety North Health and Safety North, the third in the regional series this year, claims to offers plant engineers a valuable learning and networking experience. Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/04/2011 Novel emergency stop improves efficiency at Airbus Filton The Airbus plant at Filton, Bristol is reporting improved safety and efficiency since installing Siemens' innovative 'e-stop' emergency stop buttons. » Read More

07/04/2011 Machine safety Following last year's update of the Machinery Directive, Laura Cork uncovers concerns and confusion over safety-related issues – for machine builders, specifiers and users » Read More

09/12/2010 Common sense, common safety In the aftermath of Lord Young of Graffham's long awaited 'Common Sense, Common Safety' report, most health and safety engineers must be thinking, 'so what?'. Setting aside his now infamous gaff, Lord Young's only noteworthy ... » Read More

09/12/2010 Safe maintenance Following publication of Lord Young's report into improving health and safety, plant engineers need to get back to basics. Brian Tinham talks to Geoff Cox, HSE's head of manufacturing » Read More

01/06/2009 Safety first When it comes to automated plant, ensuring safety is not just about adherence to the IEC 61508 control system standard or its industry-specific derivatives (IEC 61511 for the process industries, IEC 62061 for machinery etc). It's also ... » Read More

01/04/2009 ISIS or Oracle What has the opening of the £200 million second target station (TS2) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's ISIS pulsed neutron source got to do with plant engineers? More than most mere mortals - apart, that is, from the world's ... » Read More

01/10/2008 Machinery directive How will you be affected by the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (SI2008/159), which come into force on 29 December 2009? If you're not involved with the design, manufacture or sale of machinery, you might think, ?not much', ... » Read More

01/08/2007 Machine safety Following the ISO 13849-1:2006 debacle, and now its harmonisation to the Machinery Directive, machinery safety standards are under the spotlight again. ISO 13849-1 (Safety of machinery, Safety-related parts of control systems, Part 1: ... » Read More

01/06/2006 Why bespoke speaks for itself When installing cable management products, getting all the equipment you need from stock is not always possible. After all, specific production facilities cannot be picked from a stock catalogue. Often, production lines within a facility ... » Read More