Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Part III, Mobile work equipment – 
Regulations 25–30
The main purpose of this section is to require additional 
precautions relating to work equipment while it is travel-
ling from one location to another or where it does work 
while moving. If the equipment is designed primarily for 
travel on public roads, the Road Vehicles (Construction 
and Use) Regulations 1986 will normally be suffi cient to 
comply with PUWER 98.
Mobile equipment would normally move on wheels, 
tracks, rollers, skids, etc. Mobile equipment may be self-
propelled, towed or remote controlled and may incorp -
orate attachments. Pedestrian-controlled work equipment 
such as lawn mowers is not covered by Part III.
Employees carried on mobile work equipment – 
Regulation 25
No employee may be carried on mobile work equipment 
unless:
➤
it is suitable for carrying persons
➤
it incorporates features to reduce risks as low as is 
reasonably practicable, including risks from wheels 
and tracks.
Rolling over of mobile work equipment – 
Regulations 26
Where there is a risk of overturning it must be minimi -
zed by:
➤
stabilizing the equipment
➤
fi tting a structure so that it only falls on its side, (tip 
over protection structure such as as the vertical mast 
of a fork lift truck)
➤
fi tting a structure which gives suffi cient clearance for 
anyone being carried if it turns over further, ROPS 
(roll over protection structures)
➤
a device giving comparable protection
➤
fi tting a suitable restraining system for people if there 
is a risk of being crushed by rolling over.
This Regulation does not apply:
➤
to a fork truck fi tted with ROPS or vertical mast 
which prevents it turning on its side

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