What does a PUWER inspection look at?
A PUWER inspection looks at whether work equipment is suitable, maintained, guarded, controlled and safe for the task. The inspection should reflect the way the equipment is actually used on site.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
PUWER Work Equipment Inspections
PUWER inspections for work equipment that must remain suitable, maintained, guarded and safe for employees to use.
A competent review of equipment condition, guarding, controls, isolation, maintenance evidence and user risks, with a report that helps duty holders prioritise action.
PUWERIndependent reportThorough examination evidence
Typical scope
- Workshop machinery
- Pallet trucks and handling equipment
- Mobile plant
- Power presses and guarded equipment
- Dock levellers and loading bay equipment
- Commercial and industrial work equipment
Expert guidance
What PUWER means in practice.
PUWER is broad because it covers work equipment in almost every workplace. The core question is whether the equipment is suitable, maintained, inspected where needed, guarded, controlled and used by people who have enough information and training.
A PUWER inspection is especially important where equipment deterioration, poor guarding, altered controls or a change in use could create danger. The inspection should consider the equipment as used on the actual site, not as an abstract machine in a manual.
City Inspection Services structures PUWER findings so the duty holder can see which issues are immediate safety concerns, which need planned improvement and which records should be tightened.
What we check
- General condition, stability and suitability for the task
- Fixed and interlocked guards, emergency stops and control systems
- Isolation, lock-off arrangements and stored energy risks
- Maintenance evidence, inspection history and known defects
- Operator access, lighting, working position and foreseeable misuse
- Warning labels, markings and information available to users
Direct answers
PUWER answers for quick decisions.
Is PUWER only for factories?
No. PUWER can apply wherever work equipment is used, including workshops, warehouses, hospitality, care premises, offices, public buildings and maintenance teams.
When should PUWER inspection be reviewed?
PUWER inspection should be reviewed after installation where safety depends on installation conditions, after events that could affect safety, and at suitable intervals where deterioration could create danger.
Compliance planning
What duty holders need to evidence.
A strong inspection record should show the asset, the examination scope, defects, urgency, follow-up actions and the next due date. City Inspection Services keeps this practical for site teams and management.
- Poorly guarded or unsuitable equipment can cause severe injury even when the machine is familiar to operators.
- PUWER often overlaps with maintenance, training, risk assessment and safe systems of work, so a weak inspection record can reveal broader management gaps.
- Machinery changes, repairs, relocation and increased use can all alter the risk profile of equipment that previously seemed acceptable.
Inspection timing
- After installation where safety depends on installation conditions
- After exceptional circumstances that could affect safety
- At suitable intervals where deterioration could create danger
Evidence
Records to keep
- Equipment register and location
- PUWER inspection report and defect actions
- Maintenance and repair evidence
- Risk assessments and safe systems of work
- Training records or evidence that users have suitable instruction
Risk indicators
Common defects
- Missing, loose or bypassed guarding
- Damaged emergency stops or unclear controls
- Uncontrolled access to dangerous moving parts
- Poor isolation arrangements for maintenance
- Equipment used for a task it was not designed to perform
Method
How the visit works
- Review the equipment list and identify higher-risk machinery or mobile equipment.
- Inspect physical condition, guarding, controls and foreseeable user interaction.
- Check available maintenance and inspection records.
- Record defects with practical priority and recommended action.
- Help the duty holder decide suitable reinspection intervals.
Prepare the visit
PUWER Inspection Readiness Checklist.
Use this checklist to prepare work equipment records and reduce disruption during PUWER inspection.
Before you enquire
- List machinery, mobile plant and work equipment requiring review
- Identify equipment that has been moved, modified or repaired
- Confirm higher-risk machinery and guarded equipment
- Make maintenance staff or supervisors available
- Prepare safe access to work areas
Frequently asked questions
PUWER inspection questions.
Does PUWER apply to small work equipment?
Yes. PUWER can apply to work equipment of many sizes, from machinery and mobile plant to smaller tools, where work use creates risk.
When is a PUWER inspection required?
Inspection is required where safety depends on installation conditions, after events that could affect safety, and at suitable intervals where deterioration could create danger.
Is PUWER only for factories?
No. PUWER applies across many workplaces, including offices, retail, hospitality, care settings, warehouses, workshops and construction-related businesses.
Authority map
More PUWER guidance by equipment and sector.
Equipment
Vehicle Lift LOLER Inspection
Vehicle lifts in garages and workshops sit at the overlap between lifting equipment condition, operator safety and clear workshop records.
Equipment
Forklift Attachments, LOLER and PUWER
Forklift trucks, attachments and handling equipment can create mixed LOLER and PUWER duties depending on how the equipment is used.
Equipment
Guarded Machinery PUWER Inspection
Machinery guarding and control condition often reveal whether a PUWER file reflects real operator risk or only paperwork.
Equipment
Dock Leveller and Loading Bay PUWER
Loading bays combine vehicle movements, work equipment, pedestrians, dispatch pressure and high-use equipment that deteriorates quickly.
Sector
Manufacturing and Engineering Inspection Services
Manufacturing and engineering sites usually need inspection evidence across machinery, lifting accessories, compressors, hazardous substances and maintenance access.
Sector
Warehousing and Logistics Inspection Services
Warehousing and logistics sites rely on high-use handling equipment, attachments, loading bay plant and compressed air systems that need clear due-date control.
Case studies
PUWER examples from local inspection work.
Fife Manufacturing LOLER and PUWER Inspection
Representative case study showing how LOLER and PUWER evidence can be grouped for a manufacturing site in Fife.
Aberdeen Workshop PSSR Compressor Review
Representative case study for compressed air PSSR evidence and written scheme review in an Aberdeen workshop.
Glasgow Logistics LOLER and Loading Bay PUWER
Representative logistics case study for forklift attachments, loading bay equipment and grouped inspection planning.
Official guidance
Sources and regulation context.
HSE PUWER guidance
Use official HSE guidance alongside site-specific competent-person inspection advice.
Local coverage
PUWER pages by town and area.
Local PUWER enquiries often come from workshops, warehouses, factories, leisure sites and maintenance teams that need an independent review of machinery and work equipment condition.
PUWER in EdinburghPUWER in GlasgowPUWER in FifePUWER in DundeePUWER in AberdeenPUWER in PerthPUWER in StirlingPUWER in LivingstonPUWER in DunfermlinePUWER in KirkcaldyPUWER in GlenrothesPUWER in InvernessPUWER in ElginPUWER in PeterheadPUWER in FraserburghPUWER in InveruriePUWER in MontrosePUWER in ArbroathPUWER in ForfarPUWER in Berwick-upon-TweedPUWER in NewcastlePUWER in GatesheadPUWER in SunderlandPUWER in Durham
Book an inspection
Need a clear compliance report?
Send the equipment list, site postcode and any due dates. City Inspection Services will confirm scope, availability and the most sensible inspection schedule.
Quote intake
Site, assets, due dates.