Understanding PUWER Regulations: What it Covers and How to Comply

Organisations that own, operate or control work equipment within the United Kingdom must comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (commonly known as PUWER). PUWER imposes legal duties to ensure equipment is suitable, properly maintained and safe for use, protecting workers from hazards associated with workplace equipment. This guidance outlines the scope of PUWER, the types of equipment covered and practical steps organisations should take to achieve and demonstrate compliance.

What is PUWER and What Does It Cover?

Employers must comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) by ensuring all workplace equipment is safe, suitable and properly maintained. This obligation covers employer-supplied equipment and personal equipment brought into the workplace by full-time or self-employed personnel. Under PUWER, equipment must be suitable for its intended purpose, correctly installed, safe to operate and subject to regular maintenance. Equipment may be used only by personnel who have received adequate training. Appropriate health and safety measures, such as guards, controls and emergency stop devices, must accompany equipment. Specific safety requirements must be observed for designated machinery, including mobile work equipment and power presses.

“Work equipment” encompasses a broad range of items supplied for use in the workplace, including new, existing and second‑hand machinery, appliances, apparatus, tools and installations. HSE’s Approved Code of Practice and guidance identify the following categories:

• Hand tools (e.g., hammers, knives, handsaws, cleavers)

• Individual machines (e.g., drilling machines, circular saws, photocopiers, harvesters, dumper trucks)

• Laboratory and other apparatus

• Lifting equipment (e.g., hoists, lift trucks, elevating work platforms, slings)

• Other equipment (e.g., ladders, pressure washers)

• Installations (e.g., interconnected machine systems)

• Mobile equipment and power presses (subject to specific safety measures; see HSE guidance)

Equipment used for shipboard operations is generally regulated under merchant shipping legislation rather than PUWER.

When does PUWER apply?

PUWER applies to equipment supplied for use in any workplace or work situation governed by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and assigns duties to employers, self-employed persons and those who control or use work equipment. “Use” encompasses a broad range of activities, including starting, stopping, programming, configuring, transporting, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing and cleaning. For detailed guidance, consult the HSE Approved Code of Practice and guidance at the HSE website.

What are Your Responsibilities Under PUWER as an Employer?

Employers must ensure all workplace equipment is safe, appropriate and maintained to legal standards. Below are six principal employer responsibilities regarding provision, inspection, maintenance and recordkeeping.

1.         Equipment Suitability

Employers must ensure all provided work equipment is appropriate in design, construction or adaptation for its intended use. Selection should account for task requirements, the working environment and foreseeable hazards during operation. Equipment destined for settings involving hazardous substances, elevated pressures or extreme temperatures must be specified and rated to operate safely under those conditions. Employers must also enforce use consistent with the original equipment manufacturer’s specifications and instructions, since departures from those requirements can undermine safety and increase the risk of malfunction or incident. Regular review of equipment suitability, documentation and compliance with manufacturer guidance supports safe operation and reduces liability.

2. Maintenance

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), duty holders must implement a program of regular maintenance to ensure equipment remains safe and does not deteriorate to a level that presents a health and safety risk.

Maintenance activities should include scheduled servicing such as lubrication of moving parts, replacement of worn components and cleaning, together with safety-critical tasks like inspection and renewal of worn or damaged friction linings.

The appropriate maintenance frequency should be determined by a risk-based assessment considering:

• Intensity of use: Equipment subject to frequent operation or heavy loading typically requires more frequent attention.

• Operating environment: Equipment exposed to harsh or corrosive conditions will deteriorate faster and may need accelerated maintenance.

• Variety of operations: Multi-purpose equipment may have diverse wear patterns and distinct maintenance requirements.

• Risk of malfunction: Prioritise equipment whose failure could result in significant injury, damage or operational disruption.

3. Inspections

Routine maintenance must be supplemented by inspections at key stages: on initial installation, after any movement or reinstallation, and at defined intervals for equipment exposed to degrading conditions.

Inspections aim to verify that equipment operates safely and correctly, that all protective features—interlocks, safeguards and control systems—function reliably, and that potential hazards are identified and remedied before they result in incidents.

Inspections required by PUWER should be conducted by competent personnel with appropriate expertise. Routine checks may be performed by trained internal staff; however, complex or specialised assessments should be delegated to external experts to ensure thorough, compliant evaluation.

4. Safe Use and Operation

As the employer, you are legally obliged under PUWER to ensure all work equipment is used and operated safely. This requires a systematic approach to training, supervision and information provision to reduce risk and comply with statutory duties.

Only personnel who have received appropriate training and demonstrated competence should operate equipment. Employers must provide formal instruction covering correct use, associated hazards and effective control measures, and must retain records of training and assessment.

Where operators are inexperienced or equipment presents elevated risk, appoint competent supervisors to monitor compliance with safety procedures and to provide on-the-job guidance. Supervision should be proportionate to the complexity and hazard level of the equipment.

Additionally, supply clear, accessible health and safety information to those using, supervising or managing equipment. This should include written operating instructions, safety warnings and equipment markings, maintenance schedules and any site-specific procedures necessary to maintain safe operation.

5. Risk Assessment and Control

Risk assessments are a statutory requirement under PUWER and serve to identify hazards related to work equipment and its operating environment, then establish controls to mitigate those risks.

Key steps for conducting a PUWER-compliant risk assessment:

• Identify hazards: Assess mechanical, electrical, chemical, environmental and operational hazards, and consider potential human error.

• Determine who is at risk: Identify affected groups, including equipment operators, maintenance staff, other employees, contractors, visitors and the public.

• Assess risk: Evaluate each hazard in terms of likelihood and severity to determine the level of risk.

• Select controls: Specify measures to eliminate hazards where practicable, or reduce risks to an acceptable level using engineering, administrative and personal protective controls.

• Implement controls: Ensure controls are deployed promptly, with clear responsibility, resources and timescales.

• Document findings: Maintain a written record detailing hazards, who may be harmed and how, risk ratings before and after controls, assigned responsibilities and review dates, in line with PUWER obligations.

Risk assessment is iterative; controls should be monitored, reviewed and revised following changes to equipment, processes or incidents to ensure ongoing compliance and safety.

6. Safety Features

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), employers must implement comprehensive safety measures to protect personnel from workplace hazards and ensure legal compliance. Measures should be informed by systematic risk assessments and the operational environment. Required protections include:

• Fixed or interlocked guards: Prevent access to hazardous moving parts.

• Emergency stop devices: Allow immediate cessation of equipment operation during incidents.

• Interlocks: Ensure equipment cannot operate under unsafe conditions.

• Control systems: Provide clear, reliable means to start, stop and control equipment safely.

Selection and maintenance of these safety features must align with assessed risks, manufacturer guidance and industry best practice to reduce accident potential and maintain compliance.

Other Applicable Regulations

In addition to PUWER, some work equipment is subject to additional health and safety regulations. For example:

Lifting equipment must also comply with Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), which are designed to reduce risks associated with lifting operations (Learn more about LOLER here).

• Pressure equipment must meet Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), which are designed to prevent accidents caused by pressure systems failure that could result in serious injury or damage.

• Personal protective equipment must meet the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE Regulations), which set out specific responsibilities for UK employers to provide and ensure the proper use of PPE in the workplace.

It’s also worth noting that most new work equipment that’s classed as machinery also falls under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, which requires that machinery supplied to the GB market complies with strict safety standards and has the UKCA or CE mark. Learn more about the Machinery Regulations here.

Comply with PUWER with Total Confidence

Since are conception, we’ve been helping manufacturers comply with the requirements PUWER.

Our turnkey PUWER service covers the whole process, from inspecting equipment and documentation against regulations to providing compliance reports highlighting solutions in the event of non-compliance.

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