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PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
PUWER 1998 is the workhorse regulation behind every piece of equipment used at work. From a kettle to a pillar drill, if your workers use it, PUWER applies. It sits underneath sector-specific rules like LOLER and the Electricity at Work Regulations and fills in the general duties.
The core duties
Employers must ensure work equipment is:
- Suitable for the intended use and selected with the work and conditions in mind.
- Safe to use, properly maintained and inspected to keep it safe.
- Used only by people who've received adequate information, instruction and training.
- Accompanied by appropriate safety measures — guards, emergency stops, warnings, PPE.
Inspection vs thorough examination
PUWER calls for 'inspection' to make sure equipment is safe — what, by whom and how often depends on the risk. LOLER's 'thorough examination' is a stricter, scheme-based regime that sits on top for lifting. Don't confuse the two: a PUWER inspection of a hoist doesn't satisfy LOLER.
Maintenance records
Where the regulations require an inspection (Reg 6) or where the equipment poses a significant risk if it fails, records must be kept until the next inspection. In practice, a maintained register is the simplest defence: asset, date, action, signature.
Training and competence
Training must cover correct use, foreseeable abnormal situations and what to do if they occur. Card schemes (e.g. CPCS, NPORS, IPAF, PASMA) provide an evidence trail. Refresher intervals depend on the equipment but typically range from 3 to 5 years.
Buying second-hand or imported kit
Equipment supplied for use at work must meet the relevant supply-side regulations — UKCA / CE marking, declaration of conformity and instructions. Second-hand kit without documentation can be brought into compliance, but the burden of proof shifts onto the user.