PUWER Inspections
Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
This legislation is also general, in as much as it applies to all work equipment and any activity involving work equipment. It also contains specific requirements for mobile work equipment and power presses. It may also need to be considered in conjunction with LOLER regulations.
“Work equipment” means any equipment used by an employee at work. Regulation 6 of PUWER requires owners and users of work equipment to carry out a risk assessment to establish the in-service inspection requirements. If inspection is indicated by the risk assessment, a Written Scheme of Inspection need to be prepared, detailing the scope and frequency of periodic inspections.
Part 4 of PUWER is specific to the safe use of power presses. this states that all power presses with automatic , interlocking or photo-electric guards are thoroughly examined every 6 months. Those with fixed guards or enclosed tools should be thoroughly examined every 12 months.
Typical Equipment covered by PUWER would include:
| Type Of Equipment | Typical Inspection Frequency
(Subject to risk assessment) |
| Atmospheric Storage Tanks | 12 |
| Bailing Machines / Presses | 12 |
| Bulldozers / Dump Trucks | 12 |
| Conveyors (goods only) / (passenger) | 12 / 6 |
| Dock Leveller | 12 |
| Drilling Machines | 12 |
| Guillotines | 6 / 12 |
| Gymnastic Equipment (in the workplace) | 12 |
| Injection Moulding Machines | 12 |
| Ladders and Steps | 12 |
| Lathes | 12 |
| Lighting Rigs | 12 |
| Manual Presses | 12 |
| Milling Machines | 12 |
| Pallet Trucks | 12 |
| Pipe-work (not specifically covered by PSSR) | 12 |
| Pressure Vessels (<250bar litres, not specifically covered by PSSR) | 12 |
| Platten Machines | 12 |
| Ramps | 12 |
| Roller Shutter Doors | 12 |
| Storage Racking | 12 |
| Waste Compactors | 12 |
| Woodworking Machinery | 12 |
