The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) are the main set of UK regulations controlling the safety of work equipment. PUWER applies to virtually all equipment used at work — from ladders and power tools to industrial machinery, vehicles and lifting equipment. If you provide work equipment for use by employees or use it yourself as a self-employed person, PUWER applies to you.
Many small businesses assume PUWER is only relevant to factories with heavy machinery. That assumption is incorrect and can lead to serious injuries, prosecutions and unlimited fines. This guide explains what PUWER requires, who it applies to, and what compliance looks like in practice.
What PUWER Requires
PUWER came into force on 5 December 1998 and implements the EU Directive 89/655/EEC on work equipment into UK law. Post-Brexit, PUWER remains in force under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The regulations place specific duties on employers and the self-employed to ensure work equipment is safe and properly maintained.
Regulation 4 requires that work equipment is suitable for the intended use and the conditions in which it will be used. Equipment must be selected with regard to the working environment, the risks present, and any additional risk arising from the use of the equipment itself. A concrete mixer suitable for outdoor construction use may not be suitable for use in a confined space without adequate ventilation.
Regulation 5 requires maintenance of work equipment to keep it in efficient working order and good repair. A maintenance log must be kept for equipment where the safety of the equipment depends on the installation conditions or where deterioration could result in dangerous situations. This applies to lifting equipment, pressure systems, power presses and many types of machinery. Visual checks alone are insufficient — a documented maintenance regime is required.
Regulation 6 requires inspection of work equipment where safety depends on the installation conditions or where deterioration could create a dangerous situation. Inspection must be carried out at suitable intervals, after exceptional circumstances (such as equipment being transported or assembled), and by a competent person. The results of the inspection must be recorded and kept until the next inspection.
Regulation 8 requires that information, instruction and training be provided to all persons who use, supervise or manage work equipment. Training must be specific to the equipment and the tasks being performed. It must cover the methods of use, the risks that may arise, and the precautions to be taken. Generic training courses that do not address the specific equipment in your workplace are not sufficient.
Regulation 11 is one of the most frequently breached: it requires that dangerous parts of machinery be protected by fixed guards, interlocked guards, or other protective devices. The hierarchy of controls applies — fixed guarding is preferred, followed by interlocked guards, then adjustable guards, then self-adjusting guards. Training or supervision alone is not an acceptable substitute for guarding.
Who PUWER Applies To
PUWER applies to:
- All employers who provide work equipment for use by employees at work
- Self-employed persons who provide work equipment for their own use at work
- Persons in control of work equipment used in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, offices, healthcare and all other sectors
- Hirers of work equipment — the hirer is responsible for PUWER compliance during the hire period
- Contractors and subcontractors using equipment on a client's premises
- Businesses that allow employees to provide their own tools or equipment for use at work
PUWER does not apply to equipment used by members of the public where they are not acting as employees. For example, gym equipment used by paying customers is not subject to PUWER, but the same equipment when used by gym staff during cleaning or maintenance is subject to PUWER.
Key Duties at a Glance
- Suitability (Regulation 4): Work equipment must be suitable for the intended use and the working conditions. Factors include load capacity, environmental conditions, operator capability and the task to be performed.
- Maintenance (Regulation 5): Equipment must be maintained in efficient working order and good repair. A maintenance log must be kept where safety depends on the condition of the equipment.
- Inspection (Regulation 6): Equipment must be inspected at suitable intervals and after exceptional circumstances by a competent person. Inspection records must be kept and made available to the HSE on request.
- Specific risks (Regulation 7): Where use of work equipment involves a specific risk to health or safety, measures must be taken to ensure that use is restricted to designated persons and that repairs, modifications and maintenance are carried out only by designated competent persons.
- Information and training (Regulation 8 and 9): All persons who use, supervise or manage work equipment must receive adequate information, instruction and training specific to the equipment and the tasks performed.
- Protection against dangerous parts (Regulation 11): Dangerous parts of machinery must be protected by guards or protection devices. Fixed guards are preferred. Interlocks must prevent access to dangerous parts while they are moving.
- Protection against specified hazards (Regulations 12–18): Equipment must be protected against hazards including overheating, falling objects, rupture or disintegration of parts, fire, explosion, and uncontrolled or unexpected movement.
- Markings and warnings (Regulation 23): Work equipment must be marked with health and safety warnings where appropriate, and warnings must be clearly visible and unambiguous.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
PUWER is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities. Breaches are criminal offences prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In the Crown Court, fines are unlimited. In the Magistrates' Court, the maximum fine per offence is £20,000.
HSE statistics show that in 2022/23, there were 68 fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain, with contact with moving machinery being a significant cause. Many of these incidents involved failures to guard dangerous parts under Regulation 11 or inadequate maintenance under Regulation 5. The average fine for health and safety offences in the Crown Court in 2022/23 exceeded £180,000, with PUWER-related cases frequently resulting in six-figure penalties.
The HSE's Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme means inspectors charge £163 per hour for time spent investigating material breaches. An inspector visit prompted by a PUWER complaint can result in several thousand pounds in fees even where no prosecution follows. Improvement notices and prohibition notices are common enforcement tools — a prohibition notice stops the use of equipment immediately until compliance is achieved.
How PUWER Relates to Risk Assessments
PUWER does not explicitly require a written risk assessment, but Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 does. Your risk assessment must identify the significant hazards associated with the use of work equipment — entanglement in rotating parts, crushing, cutting, ejection of materials, noise, vibration, electrical shock, and exposure to hazardous substances.
The risk assessment informs your PUWER compliance. It determines the frequency of inspection required under Regulation 6, the content of training required under Regulation 9, and the type of guarding or protective devices required under Regulation 11. A risk assessment that simply states "follow manufacturer instructions" is insufficient — it must assess the actual risks arising from the specific use of the equipment in your workplace conditions.
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PUWER and Manufacturing
Manufacturing is one of the highest-risk sectors for work equipment injuries. HSE figures show that contact with moving machinery accounts for a significant proportion of specified injuries (those requiring reporting under RIDDOR) in the manufacturing sector. Common PUWER failures in manufacturing include inadequate guarding on CNC machines, lathes, milling machines, and power presses; lack of documented maintenance and inspection; and employees receiving generic rather than equipment-specific training.
A real-world example: in 2023, a Midlands-based sheet metal manufacturer was fined £120,000 after an employee suffered a partial amputation when his hand was drawn into an unguarded roller on a bending machine. The HSE investigation found the company had failed to guard the dangerous parts under Regulation 11, had no maintenance log under Regulation 5, and had not provided equipment-specific training under Regulation 9. The company director received a personal fine and the business was required to pay £15,000 in HSE costs.
Manufacturing businesses must conduct thorough risk assessments for each piece of work equipment, implement guarding in accordance with the hierarchy of controls set out in BS EN ISO 12100, maintain documented inspection and maintenance schedules, and provide hands-on, equipment-specific training that is recorded and refreshed at appropriate intervals. Compliance is not optional — PUWER enforcement in manufacturing is a priority area for the HSE.
PUWER and Lifting Equipment
Work equipment used for lifting — including cranes, hoists, lift trucks, scissor lifts, vehicle inspection ramps and lifting accessories such as slings and shackles — is subject to both PUWER and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). LOLER imposes additional requirements, including thorough examination at six-month or twelve-month intervals by a competent person.
The interaction between PUWER and LOLER is frequently misunderstood. PUWER Regulation 6 requires inspection at suitable intervals; LOLER Regulation 9 requires thorough examination at prescribed intervals. Both apply. A forklift truck must be inspected daily by the operator under PUWER, maintained according to the manufacturer's schedule under PUWER Regulation 5, and subjected to a thorough examination every twelve months under LOLER Regulation 9(3)(a). Failure to comply with either regime can result in prosecution.
PUWER and Mobile Work Equipment
Regulations 25 to 30 of PUWER specifically address mobile work equipment, including vehicles, forklift trucks, dumper trucks, agricultural machinery and self-propelled equipment. Regulation 26 requires that employees carried on mobile work equipment are protected from risks arising from the equipment rolling over — typically through ROPS (roll-over protective structures) and seatbelts. Regulation 27 requires fork-lift trucks and similar equipment to have devices to prevent the load falling onto the operator.
Many businesses are unaware that ordinary vans and commercial vehicles used by employees are mobile work equipment subject to PUWER. Where a vehicle is used for work purposes — not just commuting — the employer must ensure it is suitable, maintained, and that the driver is properly trained. Fleet maintenance records are subject to HSE inspection and must be retained.
Common PUWER Failures
HSE enforcement data consistently shows the following as the most common PUWER breaches:
- Failure to guard dangerous parts of machinery (Regulation 11) — the single most common breach
- Inadequate maintenance leading to equipment failure (Regulation 5)
- No documented inspection regime or records (Regulation 6)
- Generic training not specific to the equipment or task (Regulation 9)
- Use of equipment outside its design limits or in unsuitable conditions (Regulation 4)
- Removal of guards or interlocks to speed up production
- No marking or warnings on equipment (Regulation 23)
- Failure to restrict use of high-risk equipment to trained, authorised persons (Regulation 7)
Each of these failures is avoidable. Compliance with PUWER does not require large budgets — it requires a systematic approach to equipment management, documented procedures, and a workplace culture that treats equipment safety as non-negotiable.
PUWER and Woodworking Machinery
Woodworking machinery presents some of the highest risks covered by PUWER. Circular saws, planers, spindle moulders and bandsaws are involved in hundreds of serious injuries every year in the UK. The HSE's Woodworking Information Sheet No. 31 (WOIS31) provides detailed guidance on guarding requirements for woodworking machinery under PUWER Regulation 11.
Key requirements for woodworking machinery include: adequate guarding to prevent contact with cutting edges and rotating parts; use of push sticks, jigs and other devices to keep hands away from blades; properly adjusted guards that cover the maximum extent of the blade not required for the cut; and daily checks by operators to ensure guards are in place and correctly adjusted. Training must be specific to each machine and must include safe working practices, guard adjustment, and the use of safety devices.
Record-Keeping Under PUWER
PUWER requires records to be kept for maintenance (Regulation 5), inspection (Regulation 6) and training (Regulation 9). These records must be retained and made available to HSE inspectors on request. The specific record-keeping requirements are:
- Maintenance log: record of all maintenance carried out, including date, nature of work, parts replaced, and name of person carrying out the work. Required for equipment where safety depends on maintenance.
- Inspection records: record of every inspection carried out under Regulation 6, including date, equipment inspected, defects found, action taken, and name and signature of the competent person. Must be kept until the next inspection.
- Training records: record of all information, instruction and training provided, including date, content, duration, attendees, and trainer. Must be retained for the duration of employment and for a reasonable period afterwards.
Digital records are acceptable provided they are secure, accessible and can be produced on request. Paper records are equally acceptable. The HSE expects records to be legible, accurate and complete. Missing or incomplete records are treated as evidence of non-compliance.
PUWER and Bought-In or Hired Equipment
When you hire or lease work equipment, you remain responsible for PUWER compliance during the period the equipment is in your possession. Regulation 3(3)(a) makes this explicit. The hire company is responsible for supplying equipment that complies with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and is in a safe condition, but you are responsible for ensuring it remains safe, is properly maintained, inspected and used only by trained persons.
Before hiring equipment, verify that it has been supplied with a declaration of conformity, user instructions, and any required test certificates (such as LOLER thorough examination certificates for lifting equipment). During the hire period, carry out daily or shift checks as required by the equipment type, and ensure users are trained. When returning hired equipment, inspect it for damage and report any defects to the hire company in writing. Retain copies of hire agreements and inspection records.
How Anyrisks Helps with PUWER Compliance
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