Nine regulations govern fuel, dust, water, lifting and handling on UK sites. Here's what each one actually requires, in plain English — and exactly where MWE equipment fits into your compliance picture.
| Regulation | FuelBag | WetBag | DustBag | FenceBag | BarrierBag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPG26 | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| COSHH 2002 | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| CDM 2015 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MHOR 1992 | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| LOLER 1998 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PUWER 1998 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DSEAR 2002 | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| EPR 2016 | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Quarries Regs 1999 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
What it is: Pollution Prevention Guidance 26 — Storage and handling of drums and intermediate bulk containers (fuel storage).
Who it applies to: Anyone storing oil or fuel on site in containers over 200 litres — construction, agriculture, industry.
What it requires: Secondary containment (a bund) holding at least 110% of the largest container's capacity, with no drainage outlets; storage positioned away from watercourses and drains; regular bund inspection.
Where MWE equipment fits: The FuelBag's bund is integral to its design — 110%+ containment is built in, not bolted on. Position per your site drainage plan; the Easy-Lift System makes repositioning away from watercourses a one-operator job.
Deep guides: Construction Fuel Management Guide → · Agricultural Fuel Guide →
What it is: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
Who it applies to: Every UK workplace where hazardous substances — including silica, wood and general construction dust — are created or used.
What it requires: Assess exposure before work starts; apply the hierarchy of control with engineering controls (water suppression, extraction) before RPE; maintain controls; record the assessment if you employ 5 or more; review on change. Key WELs: respirable crystalline silica 0.1 mg/m³, hardwood dust 3 mg/m³, softwood 5 mg/m³, general respirable dust 4 mg/m³.
Where MWE equipment fits: The DustBag provides at-source water suppression — the engineering control COSHH requires before masks. Its 2,000L standalone tank means the control works where mains water doesn't reach, and moves with the work front.
Deep guides: COSHH Dust Assessment Guide → · Silica Dust Regulations → · Demolition Dust Suppression →
What it is: Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Who it applies to: All construction projects in Great Britain. The Principal Contractor carries site-phase duties on projects with more than one contractor.
What it requires: A Construction Phase Plan before work starts, identifying dust-generating activities and the specific controls; the PC remains accountable for dust control regardless of which subcontractor creates it.
Where MWE equipment fits: MWE equipment gives the PC controls that are actually deliverable on a live site: standalone dust suppression, mechanised handling that removes manual-handling risk, and fencing/barrier systems that maintain segregation as phases change.
FuelBagWetBagDustBagFenceBagBarrierBag
Deep guides: CDM Dust Control Guide →
What it is: Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
Who it applies to: Every employer whose operations involve lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads by hand.
What it requires: Avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable — mechanise first; assess what cannot be avoided; reduce the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable. 52% of construction MSDs link to manual handling (HSE 2024/25).
Where MWE equipment fits: The FenceBag and BarrierBag exist to satisfy the 'avoid' duty: a 200-panel fence job drops from 200+ individual lifts to ~4 machine lifts; a 144-barrier deployment becomes a single-operator machine task.
Deep guides: Manual Handling Guide → · Barrier Deployment Safety →
What it is: Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Who it applies to: Anyone planning or carrying out lifting operations, and owners of lifting equipment and accessories.
What it requires: Lifting operations must be planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out safely; lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at statutory intervals; loads must never be suspended over people.
Where MWE equipment fits: Lifts of MWE equipment fall under LOLER like any other lift — but the Easy-Lift System changes the risk profile your lift plan manages: a designed lifting point, sub-minute engagement, no slinger beside the load and no banksman, with the operator retaining full control from the cab.
FuelBagWetBagDustBagFenceBagBarrierBag
Deep guides: Easy-Lift vs Chain Lifting → · Interactive Easy-Lift Demo →
What it is: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Who it applies to: Every employer providing work equipment — which includes all MWE products.
What it requires: Equipment must be suitable for its purpose, maintained in a safe condition, inspected where deterioration creates risk, and used only by people with adequate training and instruction.
Where MWE equipment fits: MWE products are built in S355 structural steel by ISO 9001:2015 partners with simple mechanical designs — fewer failure modes, straightforward inspection. UK-held spares with same/next-day dispatch support your maintenance regime.
FuelBagWetBagDustBagFenceBagBarrierBag
Deep guides: Reducing Equipment Downtime → · ISO 9001 & Site Equipment →
What it is: Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
Who it applies to: Workplaces where dangerous substances (including diesel and petroleum vapours) could create fire or explosion risk — acute on oil & gas, mining and fuel-handling sites.
What it requires: Risk assessment of dangerous substances; an area classification document defining hazardous zones (0, 1, 2); equipment within a zone must be rated for it.
Where MWE equipment fits: The FuelBag stores and dispenses diesel and is not ATEX-rated: on classified sites it must be positioned outside the hazardous zone per your area classification. Within non-hazardous areas its bunded design is appropriate diesel storage. Talk to us before deployment on any DSEAR-classified site.
Deep guides: Mining & Oil/Gas Sector — DSEAR Notes →
What it is: Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Who it applies to: Anyone discharging water from site to a watercourse, surface water drain or ground — and waste operations under EA permits.
What it requires: Strict liability: causing or knowingly permitting pollution is an offence regardless of intent, with unlimited fines available in the Crown Court. Discharge needs an exemption or permit; silt counts as a pollutant.
Where MWE equipment fits: The WetBag's 2,000L tank decouples pumping from discharge — water is held, silt settles, and discharge happens at the approved point under your permit conditions, not into the nearest drain because the hose ran out.
Deep guides: Water Management & the Environment → · Site Dewatering Guide →
What it is: The Quarries Regulations 1999.
Who it applies to: Quarry operators and contractors working in UK quarries.
What it requires: Specific health and safety management duties on the operator, including control of dust at source so far as reasonably practicable — the same hierarchy as COSHH.
Where MWE equipment fits: The DustBag's standalone tank and oscillating cannon deliver at-source suppression on haul roads and faces where no mains water exists — repositioned by the loading shovel or excavator already working the face.
FuelBagWetBagDustBagBarrierBag
Deep guides: Mining & Extraction Sector →
Guidance, not legal advice. These summaries are written to orient site teams, not to replace the regulations, HSE guidance or your own competent advice. Always work from the current legislation and your site-specific assessments. Questions about a specific deployment? Call 01905 935679.