PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations)
UK regulations covering the safe provision, use, inspection, and maintenance of work equipment.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply to all work equipment used in the UK. Employers must ensure work equipment is suitable, safe, maintained, inspected, and only used by trained workers — with appropriate protective devices and markings.
Inspection Requirements
Where the safety of work equipment depends on installation conditions, PUWER requires inspections after installation, before being put into use, and at regular intervals or after exceptional events that may affect safety. Records of inspections must be kept until the next inspection.
How Certificate Management Software Helps
PUWER-driven inspection programs need a register of equipment, an inspection schedule, recorded findings, and clear ownership of corrective actions. A certificate management platform with inspection scheduling provides exactly this — with the audit trail HSE inspectors expect.
Who needs this?
UK employers using any form of work equipment — manufacturers, construction sites, energy operators, service providers.