MoD Health & Safety Handbook 

JSP 375 Vol 2 

ENSURING THAT CONTROLS CONTINUE TO BE EFFECTIVE 

21  The Regulations (COSHH, Lead and Asbestos) state that all control measures must be maintained, 

examined and tested and they define maintenance for this context.  Maintenance means any work 

carried out to sustain the efficiency of control measures, not just work carried out by maintenance 

workers, and includes visual checks, inspection, testing, preventative servicing and remedial work.  The 

exact details are covered in the relevant Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs). 

22  Passive control measures such as barriers should also be checked weekly and faults rectified as 

soon as they are found.  Administrative controls, such as safe working procedures should be periodically 

reviewed while measures such as signs and warning notices should be checked regularly. 

23  Preventative servicing procedures should specify which engineering controls require servicing, the 

nature of the servicing and the timing of the servicing.  The procedures should also specify who is 

responsible and how any defects should be put right. 

24  All engineering controls should receive a visual check at least once every week.  All Local Exhaust 

Ventilation systems should be thoroughly examined and tested at least once every 14 months.  There 

are few exceptions, and in any case the exceptions require more frequent testing.  

25  Suitable records need to be kept and MoD Form 933A  COSHH (LEV Plant) Maintenance, 

Examination and Test Record  exists for this purpose.  Some tests require specialist measurement and 

the local maintenance authority should be capable of conducting them on request.  The results of visual 

inspections should also be recorded even if there is nothing wrong.  There is a space on MoD Form 

933A for this purpose. 

26  Personal protective equipment should be checked before each use by the operator and any defects 

reported.  Line managers should regularly check items such as gloves, goggles and aprons. 

27  RPE gets a special mention in the regulations.  All respirators except one shift disposable 

respirators should be thoroughly examined at least once per month.  Very rarely, the interval may be 

extended for infrequently used half mask respirators but even then, the longest time allowed between 

examinations is 3 months. 

28  There are 3 MOD forms available for recording the results of these examinations but the one most 

commonly used is MoD Form 933C  COSHH Respiratory Protective Equipment Maintained by Users .  

(The others are MoD Forms 933B and 933D.)  Assessing whether the condition is satisfactory is 

generally obvious.  Manufacturers provide plenty of guidance on individual types of equipment and 

spare parts are generally available. 

29  Testing all types of RPE, but especially breathing apparatus or air fed equipment requires training 

to be competent.  In these situations ask for help at an early stage. 

USE OF CONTROL MEASURES 

30  Employers and their representatives in line management must ensure that control measures are 

properly used.  Routine visual checks are required to ensure that ventilation systems, respirators, 

gloves, goggles etc are being correctly used or worn.  Any complaints about control measures should be 

investigated and relevant action taken, but if employees persist in not using control measures properly 

(after being provided with adequate information, instruction and training), it may be necessary to take 

disciplinary procedures against them. 

31  Employees (i.e. all levels of staff) have legal duties to use control measures where they are 

provided (and use them properly).  They must store PPE properly and remove it before eating, drinking 

and smoking.  They must practice a high standard of personal hygiene and make use of the facilities 

provided, and they must report any defects in control measures promptly. 

32  Any employer or employee who fails to do any of the things required is likely to be in breach of the 

criminal law. 

Leaflet 5 Annex G 

April 2003 

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