LegalizeThe Agriculture (Metrication) Regulations 1981
Made: 1st October 1981
Laid before Parliament: 13th October 1981
Coming into Operation: 13th November 1981
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 49(1), (2) and (4) and 82(3)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974[^f00001] (“the 1974 Act”) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf and for the purpose of giving effect without modifications to proposals submitted to him by the Health and Safety Commission under section 11(2)(d) of the 1974 Act after the carrying out by the said Commission of consultations in accordance with section 50(3) of that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:—
Citation, commencement and interpretation
1
- (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Agriculture (Metrication) Regulations 1981 and shall come into operation on 13th November 1981.
- (2) In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” mean —
- the Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957,
- the Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957,
- the Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 1957[^f00002],
- the Agriculture (Circular Saws) Regulations 1959[^f00003],
- the Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959[^f00004],
- the Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 1959[^f00005],
- the Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960[^f00006],
- the Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962[^f00007],
- the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974[^f00008].
Amendments to Regulations to substitute metric measurements for imperial measurements
2
- (1) The provisions of the Regulations specified in the Schedule to these Regulations in Column 1 shall be amended by substituting for the measurements set out opposite thereto in column 3 the measurements set out in the corresponding entry in Column 4.
- (2) Where under this Regulation a measurement is required to be substituted in any provision for a measurement which occurs more than once in that provision the substitution shall be made in each place where it occurs.
Application to existing premises, plant and articles or premises and plant under construction
3
Where any premises, plant or articles in existence or premises or plant under construction immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations complied with the requirements of the principal Regulations as then in force, then those premises or that plant or article shall be deemed to comply with the principal Regulations as amended by these Regulations.
SCHEDULE — AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisions to be amended | Subject matter of measurement | Present measurement | Substituted measurement |
| The Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957 | |||
| Schedule | |||
| Part I, Paragraph 2 and Part II, Paragraph 2 | (a) minimum length of base of triangular bandage | (a) 51 inches | (a) 1.3 metres |
| (b) minimum length of sides of triangular bandage | (b) 36 inches | (b) 920 millimetres | |
| Part I, Paragraph 3 and Part II, Paragraph 3 | (a) and (b) measurements of waterproof adhesive dressings | (a) 1½ inches × 2 inches | (a) 38 millimetres × 50 millimetres |
| (b) 2 inches × 3 inches | (b) 50 millimetres × 75 millimetres | ||
| Part I, Paragraph 4 and Part II, Paragraph 4 | weight of cotton wool packets | half-ounce | 15 grams |
| The Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957 | |||
| Regulation 3(2)(c) | (a) maximum distances of tie rod from each end of certain ladders | 2 feet | 610 millimetres |
| (b) maximum distance between tie rods | 8 feet | 2.44 metres | |
| Regulation 3(2)(e) | maximum distance between adjacent rungs of non-trestle ladders | 12 inches | 305 millimetres |
| The Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 1957 | |||
| Regulation 3(2) | minimum weight which the shield and cover for take-off is capable of supporting | 250 pounds | 120 kilograms |
| Regulation 4(1)(b) | maximum height from the ground of a power take-off shaft which may be fitted with a `U' guard | two feet | 600 millimetres |
| Regulation 4(2) | minimum depth of guard of power take-off shaft below lowest point of circumference | two inches | 50 millimetres |
| The Agriculture (Circular Saw) Regulations 1959 | |||
| Regulation 2(1) | interpretation of “circular saw” | twelve inches | 300 millimetres |
| First Schedule Part I | |||
| Paragraph 4(a) | maximum distance of riving knife from saw blade | half an inch | 12 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(1)(a) | minimum width of top guard | one inch | 25 millimetres |
| Paragraph 6(2) | (a) maximum distance between bottom guards | (a) six inches | (a) 150 millimetres |
| (b) minimum extension of bottom guard from edge of saw blade | (b) two inches | (b) 50 millimetres | |
| Paragraph 7(2)(a) | minimum width of top guard | one inch | 25 millimetres |
| Paragraph 7(5) | (a) maximum distance between bottom guards | (a) six inches | (a) 150 millimetres |
| (b) minimum extension of bottom guards from edge of saw blade | (b) two inches | (b) 50 millimetres | |
| The Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959 | |||
| Schedule Part II | |||
| Paragraph 3(4)(a) | maximum height of stairway not requiring handrail | 3 feet | 920 millimetres |
| Paragraph 4(2) | minimum height above highest point of getting on or off steep stairway that hand-hold should extend | 3 feet | 920 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(1) | maximum depth below aperture in floor before guard rails are required | 5 feet | 1.5 metres |
| Paragraph 5(1)(b) | minimum height of fence for aperture in floor | 3 feet | 920 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(1)(c) | (a) minimum height of guard rail for aperture in floor | (a) 3 feet | (a) 920 millimetres |
| (b) maximum height of guard rail for aperture in floor | (b) 3 feet 6 inches | (b) 1.05 metres | |
| Paragraph 5(2) | maximum fall before guard rails are required on edge of floor | 5 feet | 1.5 metres |
| Paragraph 5(2)(a) | minimum height of door or fence for edge of floor | 3 feet | 920 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(2)(b) | (a) minimum height of guard rail for edge of floor | (a) 3 feet | (a) 920 millimetres |
| (b) maximum height of guard rail for edge of floor | (b) 3 feet 6 inches | (b) 1.05 metres | |
| Paragraph 5(3) | maximum fall from aperture in wall before guard rails are required | 5 feet | 1.5 metres |
| Paragraph 5(3)(a) | minimum height of door or fence for aperture in wall | 3 feet | 920 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(3)(b) | (a) minimum height of guard rail for aperture in wall | (a) 3 feet | (a) 920 millimetres |
| (b) maximum height of guard rail for aperture in wall | (b) 3 feet 6 inches | (b) 1.05 metres | |
| Paragraph 5(3)(b)(i) | maximum height of aperture in wall which may be unguarded | 4 feet | 1.2 metres |
| Paragraph 5(3)(b)(ii) | minimum distance above floor of aperture in wall which may be unguarded | 2 feet | 600 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(5) | (a) maximum distance of guard rail outside line plumb with the edge of the aperture or floor | (a) 10 inches | (a) 250 millimetres |
| (b) minimum distance of intermediate rail above floor level | (b) 1 foot 6 inches | (b) 460 millimetres | |
| (c) maximum distance of intermediate rail above floor level | (c) 1 foot 9 inches | (c) 530 millimetres | |
| Paragraph 6(1) | maximum fall before guard rails are required on grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits | 5 feet | 1.5 metres |
| Paragraph 6(1)(b) | minimum height of fence for grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits | 3 feet | 920 millimetres |
| Paragraph 6(1)(c) | (a) minimum height of guard rail for grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits | (a) 3 feet | (a) 920 millimetres |
| (b) maximum height of guard rail for grain pits, stokeholds and furnace pits | (b) 3 feet 6 inches | (b) 1.05 metres | |
| The Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 1957 | |||
| Schedule Part II | |||
| Paragraph 2(2) | minimum distance from workplace of unguarded component | 6 feet 6 inches | 2 metres |
| Paragraph 2(4) | maximum speed of unguarded moving chain or belt | 30 feet per minute | 0.15 metres per second |
| Paragraph 3(2) | minimum distance from workplace of run-on points | 6 feet 6 inches | 2 metres |
| Paragraph 5(2)(a) | minimum distance from workplace of prime mover not provided with stopping device on or near it | 6 feet 6 inches | 2 metres |
| The Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960 | |||
| Schedule Part II | |||
| Paragraph 4(1) | maximum fall before guards required on decks | 5 feet | 1.5 metres |
| Paragraph 4(1)(b) | maximum width of access gap in guard | 2 feet | 600 millimetres |
| Paragraph 4(2)(b) | (a) minimum height above deck for guard | (a) 3 feet | (a) 920 millimetres |
| (b) maximum height above deck for guard | (b) 4 feet | (b) 1.2 metres | |
| Paragraph 4(2)(c) | maximum distance between upright supports of guard | 8 feet | 2.4 metres |
| Paragraph 8(2) | minimum distance from workplace of unguarded component | 6 feet 6 inches | 2 metres |
| The Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962 | |||
| Schedule I Part II | |||
| Paragraph 3(4) | minimum distance from periphery of guard for rotating parts | 1 foot | 300 millimetres |
| Paragraph 4(1) | (a) minimum horizontal distance of reel from guard for potato spinner | (a) 1 foot | (a) 300 millimetres |
| (b) minimum distance from ground of guard for potato spinner | (b) 2 feet | (b) 600 millimetres | |
| (c) maximum distance from ground of guard for potato spinner | (c) 3 feet | (c) 920 millimetres | |
| Paragraph 4(2) | minimum length of chain saw guard | 9 inches | 230 millimetres |
| Paragraph 4(5)(b) | (a) minimum distance from ground of guard rail for pick-up | (a) 18 inches | (a) 460 millimetres |
| (b) maximum distance from ground of guard rail for pick-up | (b) 3 feet 6 inches | (b) 1.05 metres | |
| Paragraph 4(5)(c) | minimum distance of guard rail from front of pick-up | 12 inches | 300 millimetres |
| Paragraph 5(1) | minimum distance by which reel of cutter bar extends in front of fingers | 1 foot | 300 millimetres |
| Paragraph 9(4)(a) | minimum unladen weight of two-wheel trailer requiring a drawbar jack | 10 hundredweight | 500 kilograms |
| Paragraph 9(4)(b) | minimum downward force exerted by drawbar of unladen two-wheel field machine requiring a drawbar jack | 56 pounds | 250 newtons |
| Paragraph 9(5) | distance from ground of drawbar for calculation of downward force exerted | 16 inches | 410 millimetres |
| Paragraph 11(2)(a) | (a) maximum distance outside platform of toeboards | (a) 2 inches | (a) 50 millimetres |
| (b) minimum distance above platform of toeboards | (b) 3 inches | (b) 75 millimetres | |
| Paragraph 11(2)(b) | (a) minimum distance above platform of guard rail | (a) 3 feet | (a) 920 millimetres |
| (b) maximum distance above platform of guard rail | (b) 3 feet 6 inches | (b) 1.05 metres | |
| Paragraph 11(2)(b)(i)(c) | maximum distance from ground of platform which may be left unguarded if worker could fall clear | 2 feet | 600 millimetres |
| Paragraph 11(4)(a) | minimum height of toeboard at the leading edge of trailer | 4 inches | 100 millimetres |
| Paragraph 13(2) | minimum distance from ground of working position requiring mounting device | 21 inches | 550 millimetres |
| Paragraph 13(3) | maximum distance from ground of mounting step | 21 inches | 550 millimetres |
| The Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974 | |||
| Regulation 2(1) | interpretation of “tractor” | 11 cwt | 560 kilograms |
Signed
Signed by order of the Secretary of State.
David Waddington — Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State — Department of Employment — 1st October 1981
Explanatory note
EXPLANATORY NOTE
These Regulations amend:—
the Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957,
the Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957,
the Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 1957,
the Agriculture (Circular Saws) Regulations 1959,
the Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959,
the Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 1959,
the Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960,
the Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962,
the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974,
by substituting amounts or quantities expressed in metric units for amounts or quantities not so expressed. The substituted amounts preserve the effect of the original provisions except to the extent necessary to obtain amounts expressed in convenient and suitable terms.
Regulation 3 provides that the amendments do not relate to premises, plant or articles in existence or to premises or plant under construction immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations if those premises or that plant or article complied with the then existing Regulations.
Footnotes
[^f00001]: section 49 was amended by the Employment Protection Act 1975 (c. 71), section 116 and Schedule 15, paragraph 15.
[^f00002]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
[^f00003]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
[^f00004]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
[^f00005]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
[^f00006]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
[^f00007]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
[^f00008]: , to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations.
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