Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations PUWER

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1988), commonly known as PUWER, place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over work equipment. Responsibilities are placed on businesses and organisations whose employees use work equipment, whether owned by them or not.

The regulation requires that equipment provided for use at work is:

• suitable for the intended use;
• safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and, in certain circumstances, inspected to ensure this remains the case;
• used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training; and
• accompanied by suitable safety measures, e.g. protective devices, markings, warnings.
• Any equipment used by employees at work is covered by these regulations.

The Regulations also encompasses mobile work equipment and the use power presses. Information about which can be found at the links below.

In addition to the requirement of PUWER, lifting equipment is subject to the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).

For more informaton visist the UK government HSE website directly.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Civil Engineering Procedure.
• Construction equipment.
• Compact construction equipment.
• Construction plant.
• Construction tools.
• Crane regulations.
• Lifting device.
• Site records and registers.
• Temporary demountable structures.
• Work at height.
• Work at height regulations.