Questions we are asked

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require employers to keep work equipment safe and fit for purpose. Without regular PUWER inspections, faults can go undetected, increasing the risk of injury to operators and other workers. The Health and Safety Executive can issue improvement or prohibition notices, and employers may face prosecution if an incident occurs and inspection records are absent. Equipment that appears functional can still carry concealed defects that only a structured inspection will identify.

A PUWER inspection checks that work equipment is suitable for its intended use, properly maintained, and safe to operate. The inspector examines guards, controls, emergency stop devices, stability, lighting, warnings and markings. For specific equipment types such as industrial doors, roller shutters, racking or plant machinery, the inspection is tailored to the hazards those items present. The outcome is a written report recording what was found and any actions required to bring the equipment into compliance.

PUWER applies to almost any equipment used at work, from hand tools and bench-mounted machinery to powered industrial doors, roller shutters, conveyor systems, racking and mobile plant. If an employee uses it as part of their job, it falls within scope. Employers are responsible for equipment they own and, in many cases, for equipment hired in or provided by a third party if their workers use it on site.

The price depends on the number of items to be inspected, the types of equipment involved, the site layout, and the time the inspection is expected to take. A single machine in a small workshop costs less than a multi-site contract covering dozens of industrial doors or items of plant. When you book through this site, the specialist firm prices the work based on the scope you provide, so the figure reflects what your inspection actually involves.

The Regulations do not set a single fixed interval. The frequency depends on the risk the equipment presents, how heavily it is used, and whether the manufacturer specifies inspection intervals. High-risk or heavily used equipment may need inspection more often than low-risk items used occasionally. Employers must be able to show that inspections happen at appropriate intervals and that records are kept. A specialist can advise on a suitable schedule once the equipment has been assessed.

The specialist firm carries out all inspection work on site. An inspector from the specialist firm attends, works through each item of equipment, checks it against the requirements of the Regulations, and records findings. Where a fault or non-compliance is identified, this is noted in the report along with the action needed. The specialist firm issues the completed inspection documentation after the visit.

Storage racking is work equipment under PUWER where it is used in a workplace. A PUWER inspection of racking looks at structural condition, load notices, beam connections, upright damage and floor fixings. Racking inspections are separate from SEMA-based racking inspections, though the two can overlap. If you are booking for racking, describe the system type and the number of bays in your enquiry so the specialist firm can scope the inspection correctly.

PUWER inspections for specific equipment types, such as industrial doors, roller shutters, or plant machinery, require knowledge of how those items work and the failure modes they present. A specialist who works with that equipment type regularly knows what to look for and how to interpret what they find. A general consultant may cover the paperwork side of compliance without the practical equipment knowledge needed to spot a genuine defect.

Timing depends on the specialist firm's schedule and where the site is located. Some inspections can be booked within a few days; others, particularly for larger sites or specialist plant, may take longer to arrange. The date is confirmed once the booking is placed. The time spent on site varies with the number of items being inspected and the complexity of the equipment involved.