PUWER Training Course

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, or PUWER for short, is a set of regulations which was introduced to ensure that the equipment people use at work does not put them or anyone else at risk.
PUWER places duties on employers, the self-employed and anyone who has control over work equipment to ensure that equipment is:

• Suitable for its intended purpose
• Maintained in a safe condition
• Inspected where required
• Used only by people who are properly trained
• Fitted with appropriate safeguards and safety features where required

The term work equipment is very broad. PUWER defines it as any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work.

Some examples of work equipment include:

• Hand tools – hammers, screwdrivers and spanners
• Powered hand tools – drills, grinders and sanders
• Access equipment – ladders, stepladders, mobile access towers and scaffolding
• Machinery – lathes, presses and milling machines
• Workplace vehicles – forklift trucks, pallet trucks and ride-on mowers
• Lifting equipment – hoists and vehicle lifts
• Office equipment – printers, shredders and photocopiers
• Cleaning equipment – floor scrubbers and industrial vacuum cleaners
• Kitchen and catering equipment – slicers, mixers and ovens
• Agricultural equipment – tractors and combine harvesters

PUWER applies to work equipment provided by an employer, as well as equipment owned by employees if it is used at work.

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), employers have a legal duty to ensure that anyone who uses, supervises, or manages work equipment receives adequate information, instruction, and training.

The type and level of training required will depend on the equipment being used, the risks involved, and the individual’s responsibilities. In many cases, additional practical, equipment-specific, or task-specific training may also be necessary to ensure safe operation.

PUWER and LOLER are both important health and safety regulations, but they cover different aspects of work equipment.

PUWER applies to all work equipment and sets out general requirements to ensure it is suitable, maintained, inspected where necessary, fitted with appropriate safety devices and used by people who have received appropriate information, instruction and training.

LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) applies specifically to lifting equipment and lifting operations. It includes additional mandatory requirements for the planning of lifting operations and the thorough examination of lifting equipment.

Where lifting equipment is used, both PUWER and LOLER may apply.

Yes. If you bring your own tools or equipment to work and use them as part of your job, PUWER still applies. If your employer allows you to use your own tools for work, they remain responsible for ensuring those tools are suitable for their intended use, safe to use and maintained.

Employers should have procedures in place to ensure personally owned equipment is inspected where necessary and can be used safely in the workplace.

PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. These UK regulations set out the legal requirements for employers to ensure that work equipment is suitable, safe to use, properly maintained, and operated by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training.

This PUWER Training Course is suitable for anyone who uses, supervises, manages or is responsible for work equipment in the workplace. This includes employees, supervisors, managers and employers across a wide range of industries where work equipment is used.

Yes. This PUWER Training Course can be completed fully online, allowing learners to study at their own pace using a computer, tablet or mobile device. Online training provides a flexible way for employees and employers to develop their understanding of PUWER requirements and safe equipment use.