Using equipment

Understand the hazards associated with the equipment you use and how to reduce any risks

The University has a legal obligation to effectively manage all work equipment and ensure it's safe to use and is used safely regardless of its age or origin – including equipment that is hired or borrowed.

Work equipment is defined as any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work (whether exclusively or not).You can read the University’s full guidance on the provision and use of work equipment.

Access equipment

Read the guidance on ladders and access equipment to understand what you need to know about the correct use and selection of ladders and all other access equipment.

Display screen equipment (DSE)

Working with laptops and other types of DSE can cause both physical and mental strain. Read the guidance on:

After you've completed your training and reading the information on the safe use of DSE, you should also complete a DSE self-assessment checklist.

Employees requesting an eye sight test in relation to their work with DSE 

The new eye test voucher scheme has been temporarily withdrawn by the service provider responsible for delivering the scheme. This is due to technical problems which may take months to resolve. As a temporary measure, employees wishing to make a claim should use the OHF33 form until further notice. The process employees should follow is:

  1. Their Line Manager or Departmental Safety Officers should complete Part A of the OHF33 form.
  2. They should then take the OHF33 form to their optician of choice and ask them to complete Part B after their eye examination.
  3. Once Parts A and B have been completed, they should complete all sections of Part C – this information is essential to enable the Finance Team to process payment; please note, we are unable to process incomplete forms.
  4. They should then return the completed OHF33 form and all relevant itemised receipts to: VDUEyecareVoucher@admin.cam.ac.uk. As Occupational Health is experiencing a very high demand of service and is currently short staffed, could employees please provide the OHF33 form and receipts as a single document if possible. This will enable us to process claims more efficiently. Those employees who are unable to send their DSE eye test claim via email should post their OHF33 form and copies of their receipts to: Occupational Health, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 1SB


Lifting

Read the guidance on lifting equipment (for example, lifting aids such as pallet trucks, fork-lift trucks, cranes, slings, eyebolts and shackles) to understand what you need to know about safe selection, use and maintenance.

Photocopiers and other electrical equipment

Photocopiers must be installed, operated and maintained to avoid any risks to health and safety. Read the guidance on photocopiers and similar equipment to understand the hazards and recommendations.

Permanent plugs or sockets should be used instead of adaptors and extensions where possible. Read the guidance on using electrical adaptors and extensions to understand how to avoid risks to health and safety.

Pressure

Read the leaflet Working Safely with Pressure Systems and guidance document Pressure Equipment (equipment and systems containing steam and / or operating above atmospheric pressure in the University) to understand the arrangements required in all Departments and Institutes that operate pressure systems.

Reducing physical risk at work

It’s vital to understand how to avoid injury at work, whether you manually handle equipment, or are exposed to levels of noise that put your hearing at risk. Read the guidance on: