The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply to virtually every workplace in the UK. If you provide any equipment for people to use at work — from a hammer to a CNC machine — PUWER places legal duties on you.
What type of work equipment do you use?
This helps us point you to the most relevant sections.
What is PUWER?
PUWER — the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 — is UK law that requires employers to ensure work equipment is safe to use, properly maintained, and only used by trained people.
PUWER applies to all work equipment, not just dangerous machinery. Hand tools, office equipment, ladders, vehicles, and even a kettle in a staff kitchen are technically covered. The level of control required depends on the risk.
What counts as work equipment?
PUWER defines work equipment very broadly — it's any equipment used by an employee at work. This includes:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Machinery | Lathes, milling machines, CNC equipment, presses, saws, drills |
| Power tools | Angle grinders, drills, circular saws, nail guns |
| Hand tools | Hammers, screwdrivers, spanners, chisels |
| Lifting equipment | Hoists, cranes, fork-lift trucks (also covered by LOLER) |
| Access equipment | Ladders, scaffolds, mobile elevated work platforms |
| Vehicles | Fork-lift trucks, tractors, site dumpers (when used as work equipment) |
| Office equipment | Computers, printers, shredders, guillotines |
| Catering equipment | Slicers, mixers, ovens, fryers |
Who has PUWER duties?
PUWER places duties on:
- Employers — for equipment used by their employees
- Self-employed people — for equipment they use themselves
- People who control equipment — including those who hire out equipment
If you provide work equipment or control its use, PUWER applies to you.
The core PUWER duties
PUWER establishes several fundamental requirements that apply to all work equipment.
1. Suitability
Equipment must be:
- Suitable for its intended purpose — the right tool for the job
- Suitable for the conditions — appropriate for the environment where it's used
- Selected with health and safety in mind — risks considered when choosing equipment
Suitability isn't just about whether equipment can do the job — it's about whether it can do the job safely in your specific conditions. A tool suitable for a dry workshop might be unsuitable for wet or dusty environments.
2. Maintenance
Equipment must be:
- Maintained in efficient working order — functions as intended
- Maintained in good repair — no defects that could cause harm
- Subject to a maintenance programme — proactive, not just reactive
Where there's a maintenance log requirement (for certain equipment types), it must be kept up to date.
3. Inspection
Where equipment deterioration could cause danger, it must be:
- Inspected before first use — to ensure it's safe
- Inspected at suitable intervals — based on risk and manufacturer recommendations
- Inspected after exceptional circumstances — accidents, modifications, long periods out of use
Inspection records must be kept and made available.
4. Information and instruction
Anyone using equipment must have:
- Adequate health and safety information — about risks and precautions
- Written instructions where appropriate — safe operating procedures
- Access to manufacturer's documentation — manuals, safety information
5. Training
Users must receive:
- Adequate training — before using equipment for the first time
- Training appropriate to the risks — more complex equipment needs more training
- Refresher training — when needed, such as after changes or incidents
- Training records — documented evidence of competence
Training vs Information
Information
- •Written safety instructions
- •Risk assessment findings
- •Safe operating procedures
- •Manufacturer's manual
- •Warning signs and labels
- •Can be provided in documents
Training
- •Practical instruction on use
- •Hands-on supervised practice
- •Assessment of competence
- •Understanding of hazards
- •Emergency procedures
- •Must involve active learning
Bottom line: You need both. Information tells people what to do; training ensures they can do it safely. Written instructions alone don't constitute training.
Dangerous parts of machinery
PUWER has specific requirements for protecting people from dangerous parts of machinery. This is where most serious incidents occur.
The hierarchy of safeguarding
PUWER sets out a priority order for protecting against dangerous parts:
1. Fixed enclosing guards (first choice)
- Physically prevent access to dangerous parts
- Cannot be removed without tools
- Provide permanent protection
2. Other guards or protection devices (where fixed guards not practical)
- Interlocked guards that stop the machine when opened
- Adjustable guards for operations requiring access
- Light curtains and pressure mats
- Two-hand controls
3. Jigs, holders, push-sticks (where guards not practical)
- Keep hands away from danger points
- Used in woodworking, pressing operations
- Supplementary to other measures
4. Information, instruction, training, supervision (last resort)
- Only where physical safeguards cannot provide protection
- Never the first line of defence
- Must be combined with safe systems of work
Relying solely on training and supervision to protect against dangerous machinery is rarely acceptable. Physical safeguards must be provided wherever reasonably practicable. "The operator knows what they're doing" is not a defence.
What makes a part dangerous?
Dangerous parts include:
- Rotating parts — shafts, chucks, spindles, gears, pulleys
- Reciprocating parts — press tools, cutting blades, needles
- Cutting parts — saw blades, milling cutters, knife edges
- In-running nips — where two parts rotate together (rollers, gears)
- Crushing points — between moving and fixed parts
- Shearing points — where parts slide past each other
- Drawing-in points — belt and pulley drives, chain drives
- Ejected materials — swarf, broken parts, workpieces
Guards must be:
- Robust — strong enough to withstand foreseeable impacts
- Securely held — cannot be easily displaced
- Not easily bypassed — positioned to prevent reaching around
- Not creating additional risks — no sharp edges, trapping points
- Not restricting view of work — where possible, allow monitoring
- Allowing maintenance — designed for safe access when needed
Controls and control systems
PUWER requires appropriate controls for starting, stopping, and operating equipment.
Start controls
- Equipment must not start unintentionally
- Clear, identifiable start controls
- Located to allow operator to see if anyone is at risk
Stop controls
- Every machine must have a means of stopping
- Stop control must bring equipment to a safe condition
- Must be clearly identifiable and accessible
Emergency stops
Required where there is risk of injury. Must:
- Be clearly identified (typically red on yellow)
- Be readily accessible
- Stop the machine quickly
- Require deliberate reset before restart
Control systems
Must be safe and designed so that:
- Failures lead to a safe condition
- Faults don't create dangerous situations
- Loss of power doesn't create danger
Mobile work equipment
PUWER has additional requirements for mobile work equipment — equipment that travels while working or between work locations.
What's covered?
- Fork-lift trucks
- Tractors and agricultural equipment
- Site dumpers and excavators
- Mobile cranes
- Ride-on mowers
- Industrial trucks
Roll-over protection
Where there's a risk of roll-over, equipment must have:
- Roll-over protective structure (ROPS) — cab or frame
- Seat belt or restraining system
- Training on use of restraints
Fork-lift truck overturns kill and seriously injure workers every year. Many deaths occur when operators are thrown from the cab or crushed against the ROPS because they weren't wearing a seat belt. Enforce seat belt use.
Falling object protection
Where there's a risk of falling objects, equipment must have:
- Falling-object protective structure (FOPS)
- Appropriate to the risk
Visibility and lighting
Mobile equipment must have:
- Adequate visibility for the driver
- Lighting if used in low light conditions
- Reversing lights/alarms where appropriate
Preventing being struck
Measures to prevent pedestrians being struck:
- Segregation of vehicles and pedestrians where possible
- Warning devices (lights, alarms)
- Mirrors and visibility aids
- Traffic management systems
Inspection requirements
PUWER requires inspection of equipment where deterioration could lead to dangerous situations.
When inspection is required
- Before first use — new or second-hand equipment
- After installation or reassembly — at a new location
- At suitable intervals — based on risk and conditions
- After exceptional circumstances — damage, failure, major modification
What inspection involves
- Visual examination for defects
- Functional testing of safety features
- Checking guards and protection devices
- Reviewing maintenance records
- Verification against original specification
Inspection records
Must record:
- Date of inspection
- Identity of equipment
- Defects found
- Action taken
- Inspector identity
Records must be kept and made available for inspection.
Who can inspect?
Inspections must be carried out by a competent person — someone with:
- Appropriate knowledge and experience
- Understanding of the equipment and its risks
- Independence to report findings honestly
For some equipment (lifting equipment, pressure systems), specific competence requirements apply.
Common compliance failures
Based on HSE enforcement experience, these are the most common PUWER failures:
| Failure | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Guards removed and not replaced | Prosecution after injury |
| No emergency stop or non-functional | Prohibition notice |
| Inadequate operator training | Improvement notice |
| No maintenance records | Evidence of failure to maintain |
| Using unsuitable equipment | Liability if injury occurs |
| No isolation procedures for maintenance | Dangerous maintenance practices |
| Interlocks bypassed or defeated | Serious/fatal injuries |
| Mobile equipment without seat belts used | Fatal injuries from roll-over |
Company fined after worker loses fingers
A worker suffered serious hand injuries when their hand contacted an unguarded rotating part of a machine.
- ✗Guard had been removed for maintenance and not replaced
- ✗No interlock to prevent operation without guard
- ✗Supervisor knew guard was missing but allowed work to continue
- ✗No safe system of work for the task
- ✗Inadequate training on machine hazards
The company was fined £180,000 plus costs. The HSE inspector noted that the injury was entirely preventable with basic safeguarding measures that should have been in place.
Never allow machinery to operate with guards removed. If a guard needs to be removed for any reason, the machine must be isolated and a safe system of work implemented before any work takes place.
Source: Based on HSE enforcement cases
PUWER and other regulations
PUWER works alongside other regulations:
LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998)
Lifting equipment is covered by both PUWER and LOLER. LOLER adds specific requirements for:
- Thorough examination schemes
- Competent person examinations
- Safe working loads
- Planning of lifting operations
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
New machinery supplied in the UK must meet essential health and safety requirements and carry CE/UKCA marking. This doesn't remove your PUWER duties — you must still ensure it's suitable, maintained, and users are trained.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Electrical safety aspects of work equipment are covered by these regulations, including requirements for safe systems of work on electrical equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. PUWER applies to all work equipment, including office equipment like computers, printers, shredders, and guillotines. However, the level of control required is proportionate to the risk. A paper shredder needs less safeguarding than a metalworking lathe, but it still needs to be suitable, maintained, and used safely.
PUWER doesn't specify fixed intervals — it requires inspection 'at suitable intervals' based on the risk. Factors include: type of equipment, how it's used, the environment, manufacturer recommendations, and how quickly deterioration could cause danger. Some equipment needs daily checks; others might need annual thorough examination.
PUWER requires a maintenance log where the safety of equipment depends on maintenance being carried out and records being kept. Even where not strictly required, maintenance records demonstrate compliance, help identify recurring problems, and provide evidence that you're meeting your duties.
Training must be adequate for the risks involved. For simple equipment, basic instruction may suffice. For complex or dangerous equipment, formal training with assessment of competence is needed. Fork-lift trucks, for example, require accredited training. Training should cover: safe operation, hazards and risks, what to do if things go wrong, and limitations of the equipment.
Guards can only be removed for maintenance if the machine is properly isolated and a safe system of work is in place. The guard must be replaced before the machine is returned to normal use. Never operate a machine with guards removed. Consider whether the task can be done with guards in place or with the machine isolated.
Both the hire company and the user have PUWER duties. The hire company must provide suitable, safe equipment with adequate information. The user must ensure it's used safely, operators are trained, and it's maintained during the hire period. Responsibilities should be clarified in the hire agreement.
PUWER is enforced through the Health and Safety at Work Act. Penalties include unlimited fines and, for serious breaches, imprisonment for up to 2 years. Following a serious injury, prosecutions commonly result in fines of tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds, plus legal costs.
Second-hand equipment is subject to PUWER like any other work equipment. Before use, you must ensure it's suitable, safe, properly guarded, and users are trained. Older equipment may not meet current machinery standards — you may need to upgrade guarding or safety systems before it can be safely used.
Next steps
Understand your general health and safety duties:
Health & Safety Responsibilities Explained →
Learn about risk assessment:
Explore machinery safety in depth:
Need help with PUWER compliance? A health and safety consultant can assess your work equipment, identify gaps in guarding and maintenance, create compliant inspection programmes, and train your staff on safe operation.
Related articles:
HSE guidance documents:
- L22 — Safe Use of Work Equipment (ACOP) — Approved Code of Practice
- INDG229 — Using Work Equipment Safely — Overview leaflet
- INDG291 — Simple Guide to PUWER — Employer duties
Useful resources:
- HSE PUWER guidance — Official HSE page
- L22 ACOP — Approved Code of Practice
Tools:
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about PUWER requirements. It does not constitute legal advice. PUWER contains detailed requirements that may vary based on specific equipment and circumstances. For complex machinery or high-risk equipment, consult a qualified health and safety professional and refer to the full regulations and L22 ACOP.