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Equipment and Electrical Equipment Policy

Purpose

This policy ensures that all work equipment and electrical equipment used by A M Water Services Ltd is safe, properly maintained, and suitable for its intended purpose, protecting our employees and contractors from injury while maintaining operational efficiency across our water infrastructure and grab operations.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, directors, contractors, and visitors using any work equipment or electrical equipment on A M Water Services Ltd premises, sites, or in company vehicles.

This policy ensures compliance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

LOLER applies directly to the grab lorries, excavator lifting attachments and any lifting accessories used on AMWS work, and sets the thorough examination intervals recorded in APP_14.

Equipment Management and Inspection

All work equipment is allocated a unique identity number enabling clear tracking and inspection records. This includes grinders, disc cutters, generators, transformers, drills, ladders, access equipment, excavation tools, and grab hydraulic systems. Our supervisors conduct weekly inspections using prescribed PUWER forms, ensuring every piece of equipment remains in safe working condition. Additionally, all employees must visually inspect equipment before each use, checking for obvious defects, damage, or wear that could create hazards.

Any equipment found to be defective must be immediately marked as such, removed from service, and reported to the site supervisor. We maintain comprehensive records of all inspections, repairs, and maintenance work. For lifting equipment including chains, slings, and mobile elevating work platforms, thorough examinations are conducted every six to twelve months by competent persons, with daily pre-use checks recorded by operators.

Our vehicle-mounted equipment receives particular attention given the demands of water infrastructure work and grab operations. Each vehicle carries a complete inventory of its equipment, with weekly inspections covering hydraulic systems, PTO units, and specialized attachments. Daily walk-around checks ensure equipment remains secure and operational throughout demanding work cycles.

Electrical Equipment Safety

All electrical equipment undergoes portable appliance testing every three months with detailed records maintained. Before each use, operators inspect electrical items for cable damage, plug defects, inadequate joints, loose cable sheathing, contamination, casing damage, and signs of overheating. Any equipment showing these defects is immediately withdrawn from service until professionally repaired or replaced.

We pay special attention to electrical safety in water industry environments where moisture and contamination risks are elevated. All electrical equipment used in excavations or near water systems meets appropriate IP ratings and includes RCD protection where required.

Hired Equipment and Training

When hiring equipment, we verify that suppliers have completed all necessary inspections and testing before delivery. Hire companies must provide operating instructions and training where specialised equipment is involved. Our supervisors inspect all hired equipment upon arrival and before signing acceptance, ensuring it meets our safety standards and is suitable for the intended work.

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Directors to ensure it remains effective and continues to maintain safe equipment standards across all company operations.

Signed:

Aaron Mason Director A M Water Services Ltd 1st July 2026

Where this policy is implemented

This block is portal navigation, not part of the policy. The policy wording and the Word controlled copy below are unchanged. It links the policy to the procedures that deliver it and the records that evidence it.

Local controlled copy

Word version of this controlled document (for offline / paper records):

Download POL_HSQE_12 (.docx)

The page above and the Word copy are the same policy. The Word copy carries the AMWS letterhead and the Director’s signature and is the signed original, so where the two ever differ on the approval date or the issue, the Word copy governs and the page is corrected to it.

Document control

Document Reference POL_HSQE_12
Revision 4
Issue Date 1st July 2026
Next Review 1st July 2027
Status Uncontrolled when printed