Machine restart after major repair: what evidence?
Keep a machine-specific repair record, a competent inspection report where required, evidence that safeguards are restored, and recorded functional checks before authorising restart. Decide inspection needs from the safety risks, not the repair invoice. Ask Cambridge China Bridge for help obtaining factory drawings and component details.
Decide whether inspection is required
HSE guidance calls for inspection where safety depends on installation, after installation and before use, and after reassembly at a new location. It also identifies suitable intervals for dangerous deterioration and inspection after exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise safety, including major modifications, known or suspected serious damage, or substantial changes in use.
Treat a major repair as a reason to reassess those triggers, rather than assuming its description settles the question. Record what failed, what was disturbed and whether installation or safety functions changed. Our installation and commissioning guide covers the original site handover; this guide covers the later restart decision.
Identify the machine and the competent inspector
HSE says inspection competence depends on the equipment and its use. The inspector needs enough knowledge and experience to recognise what to examine, what defects matter and what action to take. Experienced in-house staff may be suitable; choose specialist help where the task exceeds their competence.
Ask the report to identify the machine, serial plate, site, repair scope, inspector, inspection date and relevant experience. Attach the fault diagnosis, replaced-component details, current drawings and manufacturer’s instructions. Agree the inspection scope through risk assessment, taking account of manufacturer recommendations. Our report comparison explains why a factory report answers a different question.
Record restored safeguards
HSE says inspection should focus on the safety-related parts needed for safe operation, sometimes involving testing or dismantling. For the repair handover, ask for evidence of refitted guards, secure fixings, restored interlocks, emergency stops and isolation arrangements relevant to this machine.
Use labelled photographs alongside test results. Ask the repairer to identify any temporary bypasses, altered settings or control changes and show how these were resolved. A photograph of a closed guard cannot demonstrate that its interlock works. Keep unresolved safety defects on a hold list for correction and rechecking before release.
Capture functional checks, not just a running video
Ask the competent person to define safe test methods and pass criteria before testing. Cover the repaired function, relevant operating modes, start and stop controls, protective-device responses and restart behaviour after an interruption. Use controlled conditions suited to the machine; do not ask operators to enter a danger zone to demonstrate a fault.
Record the method, conditions, expected response, observed result, tester and any limitations. Where appropriate, include a representative production trial after safety checks. Link each failed result to corrective work and a repeat check. A video of successful output supports the production trial, but leaves unanswered questions about stopping and protective functions.
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Keep a clear release record
HSE says equipment requiring inspection should not be used unless you know that inspection has taken place. Inspection results should be recorded and retained at least until the next inspection. If the equipment leaves your undertaking or is obtained from another, it should have physical evidence of its last inspection.
Keep the repair report, inspection findings, safeguard evidence, functional results and closed defect list together. As a practical release control, name the person authorising restart, record any operating restrictions and brief the users on changed controls. Cambridge China Bridge’s staff in China can help request matching factory information; use our supplier-problems service when missing drawings or disputed components obstruct the repair handover.
Frequently asked questions
Does every major machine repair need a formal inspection?
Assess the safety risks. HSE identifies installation-dependent safety, dangerous deterioration and exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise safety as inspection triggers. The repair label alone does not settle it.
Can our own engineer inspect the repaired machine?
Yes, if they have sufficient knowledge and experience for this equipment and inspection scope. HSE says experienced in-house staff can often do this. Obtain specialist help where competence is insufficient.
Is the repair invoice enough to restart a machine?
Use it as a record of the work charged for. Ask separately for repair details, relevant inspection findings, safeguard checks and functional results tied to the actual machine.
How long should we keep the inspection report?
HSE says retain the inspection result at least until the next inspection. Keeping the associated repair and test evidence together also makes later faults and changes easier to investigate.