Anybody seen a chipper like this old beast?

[skyhuck]

Actually, is "self employed" a defence or an excuse to use a non-compliant peice of kit? Could I use a chainsaw without a chain brake or AV cage and claim on my insurance for white finger after knowing it was potentially bad for me?

 

 

Actually with most gear it must only have the safety equipment fitted at time of manufacture for an owner operator to use it, so old saws that never had a chain brake are legal, my first climbing saw was a 1978 020 with no brake.

 

However chippers are different, the new regs brought in in 2000 are actually retrospective (this is very unusual) so all chipper must be modified to meet them, if being used commercially.

[aspenarb]

Actually, is "self employed" a defence or an excuse to use a non-compliant peice of kit? Could I use a chainsaw without a chain brake or AV cage and claim on my insurance for white finger after knowing it was potentially bad for me?

 

From the height of infeed, it may well be compliant in that measure, but, it may be short of an emergency stop.

 

You are right their is no excuse to run non compliant kit but the HSE hinges all of its saftey standards around the employee . Read any of the factory acts.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/49/contents.

Its no different to any other kit like a drill, grinder or a saw, we are all guilty of using them on occasion without goggles,gloves and ear defenders but we cant expect employees to do so. The said chipper could be used in any non commercial application because the HSE is only interested in the factory act and whats under its umbrella. They are not that bad anyway you just need to have your wits about you and be prepared to lose your ear lobes when you launch a branch in them off your shoulder.

 

Bob

 

re the stop button, I think it would be a waste of time, if you switch off one of these beasts you could have had a cup of tea before they come to a stop.

Edited March 6, 2014 by aspenarb

[openspaceman]

re the stop button, I think it would be a waste of time, if you switch off one of these beasts you could have had a cup of tea before they come to a stop.

 

 

Which is interesting in itself as PUWER also brought in a code of practice for woodworking machinery and I cannot find exemptions for the requirement for braking to bring the machine to a halt within 10 seconds, did we get one for outdoor equipment?