Course description

Working with or around plant and machinery involves significant risk — from crushing hazards to entrapment, electrocution, or mechanical failure. This course provides essential awareness training to help workers, supervisors, and site visitors understand how to identify hazards, follow safety procedures, and reduce the likelihood of serious accidents. It focuses on best practices for safe operation, maintenance, and supervision of common industrial equipment.

Plant and machinery incidents are a leading cause of serious injury and death across construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics industries. Inadequate awareness and poor supervision often contribute to these avoidable accidents. This course helps learners understand the risks involved and the importance of compliance with operational safety standards.

This course, developed by qualified HSE practitioners at SEITECH International, introduces learners to safe systems of work, machine guarding, site controls, permit-to-work systems, and essential maintenance protocols for plant and machinery safety.

It aligns with UK legislation including the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

What will i learn?

• Identify different types of plant and machinery found in the workplace
• Understand key hazards associated with fixed and mobile equipment
• Recognise employer and employee duties under PUWER and UK health and safety law
• Apply safe systems of work when operating or working near machinery
• Understand the importance and function of machine guarding
• Recognise the need for inspections, maintenance, and pre-use checks
• Understand isolation, lockout/tagout procedures, and safe maintenance protocols
• Promote safe use of personal protective equipment (PPE) around machinery
• Support workplace traffic management and exclusion zone controls
• Contribute to a proactive safety culture that prevents machinery-related incidents

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