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Module 4 of 8 · 15 min

Auxiliary equipment, plant and tools on site

Free construction site safety (20 hours) course: read the module, review with the questions and move on to the next one. At the end, a test and a PDF certificate.

Module 4 of 8 · Course contents

Second block of the common part: the auxiliary equipment, plant and tools commonly used on sites (annex XII, section 2.II.A.2). The general rule comes from Law 31/1995 (article 17.1): equipment must be suitable for the work, and if an item of equipment carries a specific risk, its use is reserved for those in charge of using it and its repair and maintenance for those specifically trained.

What annex IV of Royal Decree 1627/1997 says (part C)

  • Scaffolds and ladders (point 5): follow their specific rules (Royal Decree 2177/2004, which the work at height course explains).
  • Lifting appliances and lifting accessories (point 6): well designed and strong enough; properly installed and used; in good condition; operated by qualified workers with suitable training; with the maximum load visible; and never for purposes other than their own.
  • Vehicles and earthmoving and materials-handling machinery (point 7): in good condition and properly used; their drivers receive special training; measures so that they do not fall into excavations or water; and, where appropriate, protective structures against rollover and falling objects.
  • Installations, machines and equipment, including hand tools (point 8): well built, in good condition, used only for what they were designed for and by workers with suitable training.
  • Structures, formwork and heavy prefabricated parts (point 11): assembled and dismantled under the supervision, control and direction of a competent person; formwork, temporary supports and shoring are calculated and maintained to bear the loads without risk.

What to check before using auxiliary equipment

That the workstation above or below ground level is solid and stable for the number of workers, the loads and external factors, and that it has been checked after any change of height or depth (part C, point 1).

In practiceA colleague lends you the hoist «for a moment» to lift bags. If you are not trained and authorised for that lifting appliance, you cannot operate it: the rules reserve equipment with a specific risk for those with the training, and require the maximum load to be visible.

Source: VI Convenio colectivo general del sector de la construcción (BOE-A-2017-10951; construction sector general collective agreement, consolidated text, in Spanish), annex XII, section 2.II.A.2 · Real Decreto 1627/1997, disposiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud en las obras de construcción (construction sites, consolidated text, in Spanish), annex IV, part C, points 5 to 8 and 11 · Ley 31/1995, de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales (Occupational Risk Prevention Act, consolidated text, in Spanish), article 17.1

Quick review

Check that you've understood. These are questions from the final test: tap an answer to see whether it's right and why.

Who may operate a lifting appliance on site?

Under whose supervision are formwork, structures and heavy prefabricated parts assembled and dismantled?

Before starting earthworks, what must be done?

Module practice test

5 new questions, different from the final test. Tap an answer to see whether it is right, why, and which rule it comes from.

1. If an item of work equipment carries a specific risk, who is its use reserved for?

2. What must every lifting appliance and lifting accessory show visibly?

3. What training must drivers of earthmoving machinery receive?

4. What may site machines, equipment and tools be used for?

5. What equipment must earthmoving machinery have, where appropriate?

Course contents