10 tips for checking your kit is CE compliant

You could end up in legal hot water if it turns out some equipment you bought second hand is not CE compliant - and you've been using it on site. Here are 10 checks you should make on all kit you buy.

1. CE marking: For any machine built after 1995 to work in Europe legally, it must have a securely fixed CE mark plate. This identification plate will show the name and address of the manufacturer; the series or type of machine; the serial number; the year of construction; the engine output. If the machine has a plate with a CE mark but none of that information, then it is best to walk away.
2. Instruction handbook: You may know how to drive an excavator, but for it to be compliant the machine should be sold with clear instructions of how to use it. If the instruction manual is not in a European language, the chances are that it has been imported and is not compliant.
3. Documentation: All CE marked machinery will have a Declaration of Conformity document, which should be with the machine when sold. This document confirms that the machine conforms to European legislation. It will also include a description of the machine; a list of all relevant regulations and standards with which it complies and the name and address of the manufacturer or importer.
4. Noise levels: All construction machinery is legally required to show the maximum noise level that it produces. Most will also show an internal noise level for the cab. However, these stickers are easily applied, so buyers should check to ensure that all sound deadening material is fitted in the engine bay and around the cooling pack.
5. Engine emissions: This is perhaps the hardest thing to check. The engine should have a plate on it with this information, if you can find it. A machine has to comply with the emissions levels in force at the time that it enters Europe, not when it was built. That means that a five year old machine that is just coming to the EU may not be legal, even though it conforms to Euro 2 levels of emissions regulation.
   ADVERTISEMENT
    
   
   The easiest way to check is the Declaration of Conformity.
6. Hose burst valves: In Europe, all excavators and backhoes are required to have hose burst check valves if they can lift over one tonne. This means that they are fitted as standard to European specification machines. Check valves are large blocks usually positioned on the bottom hose connection of the main lift cylinders and the machine’s dipper arm cylinder. If there are no check valves, you can’t use the machine for any lifting duties.
7. Lifting points and capacity: If you do have check valves and want to use the machine to lift, then any hook, mounted on the bucket or the bucket tipping link, must have a safety latch that prevents the chain or sling from falling off. There should also be a lifting capacity chart in the cab, to assist operators when assessing if a machine can cope with a lifting task.
8. Warning stickers and markings: All machines will have some form of warning stickers or plates on them. They should be pictorial or in the language of the country in which the machine is to be used. If they are in Chinese or Japanese, they won’t be much use to the majority of UK operators.
9. Access: Modern machines must have a safe way for operators and engineers to access the cab and service areas. That means non-slip steps and walkways, grab handles and guard rails. If you have trouble climbing up to inspect the machine, the chances are that the handles and steps do not comply with EU directives.
10. Help and advice: If you are still unsure about a machine that you are interested in, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Original equipment manufacturers and their dealers will instantly recognise if a machine is non-compliant. You can also contact the HSE or the CEA for help. However, if a machine does not have a proper CE mark it cannot be used on UK sites until it has been made to conform and the certification process has been completed. This will be time consuming and costly. As the old saying goes - Caveat emptor, or let the buyer beware!