PUWER ASSESSMENTS

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 came into force on 5th December 1998. The regulations apply to employers, persons having control to any extent of work equipment, persons who supervise and manage work equipment, and self-employed in respect of the equipment they use at work.

All work equipment used by employees at work falls within the scope of “work equipment” generally taken to mean machinery or combinations of machinery. This can be any machine, apparatus, tool or installation used at work.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 are an approximation of the Use of Work Equipment Directive 89/655/EEC, amended by 95/63/EC and 2001/45/EC, and are the mechanism whereby the Use of Work Equipment Directive was implemented in to UK law.

These regulations place defined responsibilities on management to meet the requirements which are covered under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

These regulations require site policies and procedures to be formulated and implemented to ensure that work equipment is safe to use, and adequate measures are in place to ascertain the health and safety of employees whilst at work to the requirements of PUWER 98.

Put simply, the PUWER Regulations aim to make working life safer for everyone using and coming into contact with machinery and equipment, including employers, employees, contractors, suppliers, and anyone else who might use or have access to machinery in the workplace.

We can conduct an assessment in accordance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998’ on your site machinery to identify any hazards and deliver professional reports.

The regulations aim to ensure that all equipment is: