End User Regulations – The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) requires users of work equipment to carry out risk assessment and provide work equipment that is suitable for its intended use and can be used without putting persons at unacceptable levels of risk. The Regulations cover any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work.

• P.U.W.E.R is the UK’s implementation of the European Directive - ‘The Use of Work Equipment Directive’.
• P.U.W.E.R is legislation aimed at users of machinery as opposed to suppliers of machinery.
• P.U.W.E.R is made up of 39 regulations which are split into 4 parts. Equipment (6, 11 - 21, 25 – 34), Personnel (8,9,10,23 & 24), Workplace (4, 6, 7, 8, 23, 24) and Maintenance (5, 6, 22, 23, 24).
• P.U.W.E.R came into force in 1992 but was amended in 1998 hence the common name PUWER 98.
• P.U.W.E.R comes under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)

For detailed guidance on PUWER there is an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) published by the HSE which is designed to give further direction on each of the regulations 1-39. The PUWER 98 ACOP is available from HSE Books priced £12.99 (at the time of writing). To purchase use the following link:

Halcyon‘s Safety department can also offer detailed PUWER reports which provide analysis of existing work equipment and potential compliance shortfalls. Please see our Machinery Safety Services section or contact our Machinery Safety Department for more information.