Lifting Equipment and Pressure Systems: A Call For Evidence  

In March the Government announced a “new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth”, intending to review the regulatory system to ensure it supports growth, is targeted and proportionate, transparent and predictable and adapts to keep pace with innovation.

Actions have been given to various regulatory bodies, including the HSE, who are due to consult on potential changes to the definitions, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 2013 and consider improvements to the reporting process. The HSE have also been tasked with reviewing the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and consulting to identify and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens and identify potential changes to this legislation to reflect technological advances and the reliability of work equipment.

HSE calls for evidence

As part of this process, the HSE recently launched two calls for evidence.

The first covers the Pressure Systems Regulations and is asking manufacturers, suppliers and owners/users of pressure systems for their opinions on the current regulations and whether they remain fit for purpose or if updates are required, for example, to reflect changes in technology. You can respond to the call for evidence on the HSE’s consultation website.

The second covers the lifting regulations and is asking similar questions of organisations whose employees use lifting equipment. Again, you can respond to the call for evidence on the HSE’s consultation website.

The calls for evidence run until 11th November 2025.

Future goals

While both sets of regulations are well established and considered to be based on sound engineering principles, technology has developed since they were introduced, and the aim is to identify any unnecessary financial or administrative burdens where regulations have become outdated.

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