PUWER Inspections
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
A PUWER inspection assesses work equipment against the duties in the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998: that it is suitable, maintained, properly guarded and safe to use. PUWER sets no fixed interval. The frequency comes from your own risk assessment, based on the equipment, how hard it is used and the environment it works in, and many sites settle on annual as a minimum.
What PUWER Inspections covers
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998PUWER covers virtually all equipment provided for use at work, from a pillar drill to a CNC machining centre or a full production line. An assessment works through each machine against the duties that actually apply to it: guarding and protective devices, emergency stops, controls and isolation, stability, markings, and whether the machine is still suitable for what it is now being asked to do. Equipment that has been modified, moved or bought second hand usually needs the closest attention, because the original conformity no longer describes what is on the floor. Safe-Lee produces a record per machine rather than one certificate for the site, since PUWER duties attach to equipment.
PUWER at a glance
The facts that decide what you need and when, in one place.
| Governing regulation | Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 6 |
|---|---|
| Interval | Determined by risk assessment rather than a fixed statutory period, based on the equipment, how hard it is used and its environment. Many businesses settle on annual as a minimum |
| Also required | After installation or relocation, and after any event likely to have affected safety |
| Who must arrange it | The employer providing the equipment for use at work |
| Who may carry it out | A competent person appropriate to the equipment's complexity |
| What you receive | A machine-by-machine assessment against the PUWER duties that apply, with defects and remedial timescales |
| Typical report turnaround | 1 to 2 working days |
What Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires of you
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, employers and duty holders are legally required to ensure equipment is thoroughly examined by a competent person at regular intervals. Failure to comply can result in significant fines, enforcement action, and, most importantly, puts your workforce at serious risk.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 compliance is not optional
Our PUWER Inspections Process
Every PUWER Inspections follows the same five steps, from the first conversation about what you have on site to the report landing in your inbox. Knowing the sequence matters because two of the steps need something from you: agreeing the scope at the start, and giving the engineer safe access on the day. The rest is ours to carry.
- 1
Initial Consultation
We talk through what equipment you hold, how it is used and which regulations bite on it. That conversation sets the scope, and it is what makes a quote a real figure rather than a guess.
- 2
Site Survey
An engineer visits to confirm what is actually on site against what was described, and to identify anything needing immediate attention. Sites often hold more equipment than the office records show, and this is where that surfaces.
- 3
Thorough Examination
The examination itself is hands-on rather than a walk round, carried out to the standard the relevant regulation sets. Each item is assessed on its own and recorded individually, including accessories stored away from the machine.
- 4
Report & Recommendations
You receive a written report identifying every defect found, classified by how urgently it must be put right, with the date the next examination falls due. Anything dangerous is raised with you on site the same day rather than held back for the paperwork.
- 5
Ongoing Support
Once the first examination is done we hold the due dates and flag them before they lapse. Most compliance failures are diary failures rather than equipment failures, so that is the part worth automating.
What a PUWER costs, and what moves the figure
We do not publish a flat rate, because PUWER work is scoped to your equipment and site and any single figure would be wrong for most readers. Here is what we price on, what a complete quote covers, and how to judge one quote against another, so you can budget before you speak to anyone.
What moves the price
- Number of machines and how different they are from one another. A line of identical machines assesses faster than a workshop of one-offs
- Complexity and guarding. A pillar drill is quick; a CNC machining centre, a power press or an interlocked production line is not
- Whether a prior assessment exists. A first assessment establishes the baseline and takes longer than a review
- Condition and history. Equipment with modifications, missing documentation or known defects takes longer to work through
- Access and downtime. Machines must be safe to examine, which often means scheduling around production
- Location and travel, and whether other statutory work is bundled into the visit
What a complete quote should cover
- The competent person's time on site, examining to the standard the regulations require
- A written report identifying any defects and classifying them by how urgently they must be addressed
- The date the next examination falls due
- Certification you can show an HSE inspector or your insurer
- Travel to your site
- An assessment against the specific PUWER duties that apply to each machine, not a generic checklist
If a quote does not spell these out, ask. The report is the part that proves compliance; an examination with no usable report leaves you no better off than before.
How to compare quotes fairly
Ask every firm the same questions, including us. A cheaper quote usually differs on one of these rather than on the work itself.
| Compare on | Safe-Lee |
|---|---|
| Who carries out the examination, and what qualifications and competent-person status they hold | Stated in writing |
| Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance | Stated in writing |
| Whether they are independent of the equipment's supply, hire and maintenance | Stated in writing |
| Exactly what is included, in writing, with a sample report | Stated in writing |
| How quickly the report is issued after the visit | Stated in writing |
| Whether the output is a machine-by-machine assessment or a single site-level tick sheet | Stated in writing |
Are Safe-Lee PUWER inspections right for you?
We would rather tell you now than after you have booked. Below is who we are a good fit for, who we are not, what this service does not cover, and what else you could do instead, including options we do not sell. Statutory examination is a legal duty rather than a purchase, so the useful question is not whether you need it but whether we are the right people to do it for you.
We are a good fit if
- You are the duty holder or employer responsible for arranging statutory examination
- Your site is in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire or the surrounding North West
- You want the examination done by someone with no commercial interest in the equipment staying in service
- You have machinery, production lines, workshop equipment or power tools and need to evidence that they are safe and suitable
We are not the right choice if
- You need the equipment repaired, serviced or maintained. We examine and report, and we do not carry out remedial work
- You need a single provider to cover many sites across the UK on the same day. We are a small independent practice, not a national network
- You need 24/7 emergency callout. Work is scheduled, including out of hours where that avoids disrupting production
- You want a single site-level certificate rather than an assessment of each machine. PUWER duties attach to equipment, so that is not what we produce
What this service does not cover
- Repair, servicing, maintenance or refurbishment of the equipment examined
- Supply, hire or sale of equipment or spare parts
- Any work that would compromise our independence as the examining body
- Designing or fitting machine guarding, interlocks or safety circuits
- CE or UKCA conformity assessment for new machinery
What else you could do instead
- Your insurer's engineer surveyor scheme
- Many business insurance policies include statutory inspection for lifting and pressure equipment. Check what you already pay for before buying it twice. It is a genuine alternative, and for some businesses the right one.
- A national inspection body
- If you have many sites across the UK, or need round-the-clock cover, a large provider will suit you better than we will.
- An in-house competent person
- If you employ someone with the right knowledge and experience who is genuinely independent of the equipment's operation and maintenance, they can carry out the examination themselves.
What we need from you
Having these ready shortens the visit and keeps the quote accurate.
- A list of the equipment to be examined, with identification or serial numbers where they exist
- Previous reports or certificates, if you have them, so we can see the history and the next due dates
- Safe access to each item, including any isolation, permits or escorts your site requires
- Someone available who can operate the equipment if a functional check is needed
- Manufacturer's manuals and any existing risk assessments, which set what the equipment was designed to do
- Machines available and safe to examine, which usually means scheduling around production
What Our Clients Say
“Lee is a fantastic engineer and very approachable. He delivers examinations with minimal disturbance to your operations in a timely manner. If you need or are unsure if your equipment requires an examination, contact Lee and he will guide you through the process of becoming and staying compliant.”
Lee Stanaway
Reviewed on Google
“Brilliant company! Can't recommend Lee enough. Great communication throughout and speedy reporting to ensure kit is compliant with LOLER and PUWER.”
Thomas Bullivant
Reviewed on Google
“Great service, very knowledgeable regarding my lifting equipment. If you're needing a LOLER examination carried out, get on to Safe Lee!”
Sean Crawford
Reviewed on Google
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a PUWER inspection involve?
A PUWER inspection involves assessing work equipment for safety, suitability, and maintenance condition. Our engineer checks guards and protective devices, emergency stop mechanisms, controls, stability, markings and warnings, and the general condition of the equipment against the requirements of PUWER 1998.
How often is a PUWER inspection required?
PUWER 1998 requires that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair. Inspections should be carried out at suitable intervals determined by risk assessment, the type of equipment, the intensity of use, and the operating environment. Many businesses opt for annual inspections as a minimum.
What equipment does a PUWER inspection cover?
PUWER covers virtually all work equipment including machinery, power tools, hand tools, ladders, photocopiers, laboratory apparatus, and any equipment provided for use at work. This ranges from simple hand tools to complex CNC machines and production lines.
Where the PUWER rules come from
Everything on this page is our reading of the following documents. They are the authority, not us, so we link them directly and you can check any of it yourself.
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
legislation.gov.uk
The statutory instrument itself, covering suitability, maintenance, guarding and inspection of work equipment.
- Safe use of work equipment (L22)
Health and Safety Executive
The Approved Code of Practice for PUWER, including what inspection under regulation 6 requires.
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's topic page summarising the duties PUWER places on employers.
Further reading
Plain-English guides to the regulations behind PUWER: what they require, how often, and who can sign it off.
LOLER vs PUWER vs PSSR Explained
PUWER covers nearly all work equipment, which is why it so often overlaps with LOLER and PSSR. A duty holder's guide to which applies where.
What Is a Thorough Examination?
Where PUWER requires a formal examination rather than a routine inspection, and who is qualified to carry one out.
Inspection Frequency Guide
Statutory intervals across every regulation at a glance, plus the events that bring an inspection forward regardless of the calendar.
Need PUWER inspections or a quotation?
The short version: if you hold this equipment, examination is a legal duty rather than a choice, the interval is set by the regulation or by your own scheme rather than by us, and the report is the part that proves you complied.
Tell us what you have on site and roughly where it is, and you will get a scoped quote rather than a rate card. If we are not the right people for it, we will say so.
Areas We Cover
Based in Irlam, Manchester, we provide inspection services across Greater Manchester, the North West, and nationwide.
Where we provide PUWER inspections, and what else we examine on the same visit
Safe-Lee works from Irlam in Greater Manchester and covers the North West from that single base, so most sites in the region are within an hour's drive. The county links below open a page for each area we work in regularly.
Most sites need more than one regime. A workshop with a crane, an air receiver and an extraction system falls under LOLER, PSSR and COSHH at the same time, and examining all of it on one planned visit takes less of your time than booking three. The service links below cover the other regimes we examine.