Testing and certification of equipment

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8. Testing and certification of equipment

General provisions

197. All equipment used in forestry work should undergo appropriate testing to

ensure that it is designed and constructed according to safety requirements as

required by laws and regulations and/or as described in Chapters 6 and 7 of this

code.

198. Equipment should be tested and certified to inform both purchasers and

users about the quality and suitability of the equipment for the purpose for which it

will be used.

199. Testing and certification should preferably be performed only by

institutions accredited by the competent authorities.

Testing procedures and criteria

200. Testing procedures should be adequate to ascertain whether the tested

equipment is designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of national laws

and regulations.

201. When national or international standards for testing procedures are

available, they should be followed.

202. Testing criteria should include ergonomic aspects. Particularly in the case

of personal protective equipment, they should include comfort, reliability and

efficiency.

203. When testing machines, specific ergonomic checklists should be used

which contain questions on important characteristics of machines. Unsatisfactory

aspects should be noted together with recommended changes and potential

problems.

204. Test results should be unambiguous and easy to understand.

205. Test results should be published and made available to dealers,

distributors and purchasers.

Certification

206. Machines and equipment which meet the test criteria should be certified

by the institution or appropriate competent authority.

207. Certified equipment should be clearly marked, in accordance with the

specific requirements of the competent authority.

208. Employers, their equivalents, and safety and health inspectors should

ensure that only successfully tested and certified equipment is used.