Safety Alert - Horse Walkers / Exercisers

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is issuing a safety alert to all employers, owners and operators in the Equine Industry with regard to Horse Walkers/Exercisers.

It has come to the attention of the Health and Safety Authority that some walkers/ exercisers available on the market may not be in compliance with the requirements of the European Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery, as given effect to nationally by the  European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008 as amended.

The Health and Safety Authority wish to remind all employers, owners and operators of walkers/exercisers, that they are classed as machinery products and therefore they must meet the requirements of the relevant legislation when they are first placed on the market. Particularly, the requirement for all machinery products to have 

• an EC Declaration of Conformity
• CE marking affixed and
• operator instructions available in English

Corrective action:

Manufacturers

Manufacturers of horse walkers/exercisers are reminded that such machinery products are required to comply with their obligations under the European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008 as amended.

Employers, owners and operators 

Employers, owners and operators of such Walkers/ Exercisers should carry out checks to ensure the following:

• Horse walker/exercisers have a CE mark affixed, is accompanied by EC Declaration of Conformity and instructions are available in English.
• Walkers/ Exercisers found not to have CE marking affixed or where they were not accompanied by an EC Declaration of Conformity and operator instructions, the manufacturer should be contacted without further delay to verify compliance with the relevant legislation.
• In the event that the manufacturer cannot be identified or contacted then a competent person should be engaged to verify compliance and safety of the Walker/ Exerciser before putting the machine back into use.

Horse walkers/exercisers not in compliance with the relevant legislative requirements referenced above, should be removed from use by the duty holders (owners/ operators) until such time as the machine is brought into compliance.

The Health and Safety Authority reminds all employers of the necessity to ensure, based on risk assessment, the implementation of a robust safe system of work to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees who work with machinery including walkers/exercisers.