About This Sector
Manufacturing sites are among the most inspected workplaces in the UK. HSE's sector plans specifically target manufacturing operations for proactive intervention. Machinery guarding, COSHH exposure, noise, vibration, and manual handling create a risk profile that demands specialist health and safety expertise. Arinite provides Chartered health and safety consultants with direct experience in manufacturing environments, from small workshops to multi-site production facilities.
Sector-Specific Regulations
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 apply to all manufacturing operations. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) cover all machinery and production equipment. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) apply to chemicals, dusts, fumes, and biological agents. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require noise assessments and hearing protection programmes. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 apply to powered hand tools and equipment. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) apply where flammable or explosive atmospheres may occur.
Common Compliance Failures We Find
These are the health and safety failures Arinite's consultants find most frequently in this sector:
Machinery guarding that is inadequate, damaged, or routinely bypassed during production.
COSHH assessments that are incomplete, outdated, or do not reflect the actual substances currently in use.
No noise assessment despite employees working in environments above the lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A).
Risk assessments that have not been reviewed following changes to production processes, equipment, or materials.
Permit-to-work systems for maintenance activities that are poorly documented or inconsistently applied.
No documented lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures for machinery maintenance and cleaning.
Our Services for This Sector
Arinite's manufacturing health and safety services include comprehensive risk assessments covering all production and maintenance activities, PUWER compliance reviews for all machinery and work equipment, COSHH assessments for chemicals, dusts, and hazardous substances, noise assessments and hearing conservation programmes, fire risk assessments including DSEAR where applicable, health and safety audits including preparation for HSE proactive inspections, permit-to-work and lockout/tagout procedure development, staff training for machine operators, COSHH awareness, and fire marshals, and health and safety software for managing compliance across multi-site manufacturing operations.
Book a Free Manufacturing Gap Analysis Call
Book a free gap analysis call with one of our Chartered health and safety consultants. In 30 minutes, we will assess your current manufacturing health and safety arrangements and identify the compliance gaps that matter most.
