What is this document?
INDG291, "Providing and Using Work Equipment Safely", is a brief guide published by the HSE in 2013. It sets out employers' legal duties under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) in a clear, accessible format.
The document uses practical examples, dos and don'ts, and actionable guidance to help employers understand and meet their obligations.
Who needs to read this?
This document is primarily aimed at:
- Employers who provide work equipment for their employees
- Business owners responsible for equipment safety
- Managers with oversight of equipment purchases and use
- Health and safety managers and advisers
- Those involved in equipment maintenance and inspection
- Anyone who needs to understand PUWER employer duties
Key points covered
Scope of PUWER
The regulations cover a broad range of equipment:
- Machinery of all types
- Hand tools (including hand-held power tools)
- Lifting equipment
- Mobile work equipment (forklifts, site vehicles, etc.)
- Pressure equipment
- Power presses (with specific additional requirements)
Core employer duties
Ensuring proper safeguards are in place:
- Guards and protection devices to prevent contact with dangerous parts
- Controls to stop, start, and emergency stop equipment
- Isolation provisions to make equipment safe for maintenance
- Protection against specific hazards (hot surfaces, ejected materials, etc.)
Maintenance and inspection:
- Keeping equipment in efficient working order and good repair
- Carrying out inspections where equipment deterioration could cause danger
- Recording inspections where required
- Ensuring only competent people carry out maintenance
Training and information:
- Providing adequate training before allowing employees to use equipment for the first time
- Ensuring users have adequate health and safety information
- Providing instruction on safe use methods
- Supervising appropriately, especially for new or young workers
Specific requirements for mobile work equipment
PUWER contains additional requirements for mobile work equipment such as:
- Fork-lift trucks
- Mobile cranes
- Site dumpers and excavators
- Tractors and agricultural equipment
These include requirements for:
- Roll-over and falling object protection where there is risk
- Restraining systems (seat belts)
- Measures to prevent people being struck or run over
- Safe towing arrangements
Power press requirements
Power presses have specific additional requirements including:
- Thorough examination at prescribed intervals
- Testing and inspection of guards and safety devices
- Specific training requirements for setters and operators
How this applies to you
As an employer, PUWER requires you to take a systematic approach to equipment safety:
- Identify all work equipment - List everything from machinery to hand tools
- Assess the risks - What hazards does each piece of equipment present?
- Provide suitable safeguards - Guards, controls, safety devices
- Establish maintenance regimes - Keep equipment in safe working order
- Implement inspection programmes - For equipment where condition affects safety
- Train your people - Before first use and when circumstances change
- Keep records - Maintenance logs, inspection records, training records
PUWER applies to all work equipment, not just what you might consider "dangerous machinery". Hand tools, office equipment, access equipment, and vehicles all fall within scope. The level of safeguarding required depends on the risks involved.
Common compliance failures
Based on HSE enforcement experience, common problems include:
- Missing or inadequate machine guards
- Guards that have been removed and not replaced
- No emergency stop facilities
- Inadequate operator training
- No maintenance records
- Failure to inspect equipment
- Using unsuitable equipment for the task
- No isolation procedures for maintenance
Serious injuries from work equipment can result in significant fines and, where there has been gross negligence, criminal prosecution of individuals. Getting equipment safety right protects your workers and your business.
Related Safety Clarity content
- PUWER Regulations Guide - Plain-English guide to PUWER requirements with practical compliance advice
- Machinery safety guidance - Detailed machine guarding requirements
- INDG229 - Using Work Equipment Safely - Overview of PUWER requirements
- L22 - Safe Use of Work Equipment - The ACOP and guidance for PUWER
- Workplace safety fundamentals - Core employer health and safety duties
- Manufacturing sector guidance - Equipment-intensive environments
- Construction sector guidance - Mobile equipment and tool safety
Source: HSE - INDG291
Disclaimer: This summary is for information only. PUWER contains detailed legal requirements - always refer to the full regulations and official HSE guidance for complete information. For specific advice about your situation, consult a qualified health and safety professional.