PUWER inspections in the United Kingdom
Scheduled PUWER inspections for work equipment, carried out by a competent person.
What a PUWER inspection covers
PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Those regulations place a legal duty on employers and the self-employed to ensure that work equipment is suitable for its intended purpose, maintained in a safe condition, and inspected at suitable intervals by a competent person. A PUWER inspection checks that each piece of equipment meets those requirements, records the findings in writing, and identifies any action needed to bring it into compliance.
PUWER applies to a wide range of equipment: production machinery, woodworking machines, printing presses, industrial doors, roller shutters, racking systems, plant and vehicles used at work. If your business uses equipment that could harm someone if it failed or was misused, a scheduled inspection is the way to demonstrate that your duty of care is being met. A specialist will attend site, work through the equipment systematically, and produce a written report with any defects graded by urgency.
Key facts at a glance
PUWER inspections for work equipment across the United Kingdom, covering legal requirements, inspection frequency, and how to book a competent specialist.
Does this situation apply to you?
- Work equipment has been purchased second-hand and no inspection record exists for it.
- A machine or piece of plant has been modified since it was last formally checked.
- Your site is preparing for an external compliance visit and the equipment records are incomplete.
- A piece of equipment has been involved in a near-miss or incident and needs to be assessed before returning to use.
- New equipment has been installed and has not yet been inspected under PUWER before staff begin using it.
- The interval since the last inspection has passed and no scheduled review has taken place.
Book your PUWER inspection
Give us the site address, the type of equipment and when access is available. A specialist will carry out the inspection and issue a written report at the set price.
- Reports issued after every inspection
- Covers plant, racking, industrial doors and more
Steps for a PUWER inspection
Scope confirmation
The specialist reviews the equipment list, site layout and any previous inspection records before arriving, so the visit covers every item within scope.
Physical examination
Each piece of work equipment is checked against the requirements of PUWER 1998: guarding, controls, stability, lighting, markings and maintenance condition are all assessed in turn.
Risk grading
Findings are graded by severity so the employer can see which defects require immediate action, which need a planned repair and which are observations to monitor.
Written report
A formal PUWER inspection report is issued, listing each item examined, the defects found, the risk level assigned and the remedial actions required.
PUWER inspections across the United Kingdom
Fixed price, in writing. The price is set before the visit and confirmed to you in writing.
A written inspection report. The specialist produces a documented report covering each item of equipment inspected.
Specialists who know your site. Inspectors working across the United Kingdom have experience with the equipment types common in your industry.
Book only what you need. There is no requirement to add services beyond the inspection you have booked.
What PUWER covers in practice
Equipment types covered
PUWER applies to almost any machine or tool used at work: press brakes, conveyors, guillotines, woodworking machinery, forklift trucks, industrial doors, roller shutters, racking systems, compressors and hand-held powered tools. If a worker uses it to do their job, it almost certainly falls within scope.
What the inspection looks at
A specialist checks that guards are in place and secure, that emergency stops function correctly, that controls are clearly marked and accessible, that the equipment is stable and properly mounted, and that any safety devices operate as intended. Wear, damage and any modifications made since the last inspection are also recorded.
The written report
After the visit, the specialist produces a dated inspection record covering each item examined. The report notes the condition found, any defects identified and the urgency of any remedial action required. This document forms part of the employer's evidence that the duty under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 has been met.
How PUWER relates to LOLER
Where equipment is also used for lifting, LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) applies alongside PUWER. The two sets of regulations overlap for items such as tail lifts, scissor lifts and vehicle hoists. A specialist can carry out both inspections at the same visit and produce separate reports for each.
PUWER inspections across the United Kingdom
Specialists carry out puwer inspections across the United Kingdom, including Birmingham · Bristol · Cardiff · Leeds · Leicester · Liverpool · Manchester · Sheffield and many more areas; find your area to book a visit.
PUWER inspections by building feature
How this service applies to specific building features: