Safety is everyone’s responsibility. At CERN, pressure equipment such as vessels, piping and safety accessories is essential for both industrial and experimental activities. However, these systems also present risks due to the energy stored under pressure and the chemical hazards posed by their contents.

In the interests of the safety of all personnel and installations, it is mandatory that you register your pressure equipment. Proper registration, maintenance and safety inspections prevent accidents, protect people and safeguard our experiments and infrastructure.

Recent on-site reviews conducted jointly with Departmental Safety Officers (DSOs) and equipment owners have identified around 120 previously unregistered pressure equipment assets, including both legacy and newly installed equipment. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining an up-to-date inventory and demonstrate the value of the initiative, with a further 20 visits already planned.

If you are or have recently been appointed as a pressure equipment owner, take action now to identify all the pressure equipment under your responsibility and register it in the EAM (enterprise asset management) system without delay.

When planning projects or maintenance activities, remember to factor in, from the outset, any required safety inspections, which may include an internal visual inspection and/or pressure testing. Due to high demand, pressure tests are currently being scheduled around eight weeks in advance, making early booking essential to avoid delays and ensure compliance.

Find out more about the responsibilities of pressure equipment owners, along with useful information, guidance and the rules applicable to pressure equipment at CERN on the dedicated HSE safety risks webpage.

Stop. Think. Act. Safety first. Safety always.