HSE acronyms explained: What does PUWER mean?

If you operate equipment or machinery in your workplace, or are about to procure some, PUWER is relevant to you. PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The PUWER regulations are designed to protect people who use, supervise or manage work equipment, as well as others who may be affected by its use, including employees, self-employed people, contractors and, in some circumstances, members of the public.

Given the wide range of work equipment covered by PUWER, the practical measures required to comply with the regulations will vary considerably. While PUWER applies to all work equipment, the level of inspection, maintenance, training and control required should be proportionate to the risks associated with the equipment. For example, a large, complex production-line machine will typically require more extensive controls than a simple handheld tool.

From retail to manufacturing, education to healthcare; and of course, construction and farming, virtually any industry could be affected.

Your high level PUWER to-do list

So, before diving into the weeds, what are the high-level things you should be considering under PUWER?

• Is it the correct equipment for the job in hand?
• Is it installed and maintained correctly?
• Have its operators had sufficient training to use it safely?
• Has it been modified to make it unsafe, for example removing guard rails?
• Is it being used in the correct context?

Deeper compliance with PUWER

Assuming you have selected and installed the correct equipment, much of your day-to-day compliance under PUWER will look like designing and carrying out an inspection schedule to confirm machinery is safe or identify problems; running maintenance; fixing or replacing faulty equipment; and performing training of those using the equipment.

Where PUWER is relevant, there may be other specific regulations you need to be aware of, like LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) or the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. The Health and Safety at Work Act etc.1974 will always be relevant.

PUWER enforcement

PUWER is generally enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), although some workplaces may fall under local authority enforcement. If an inspector identifies failings, they may issue an improvement notice or, where there is a risk of serious personal injury, a prohibition notice.

It is serious business and sadly there are many examples of prosecution by HSE, following an accident. 

In June 2026, an HSE press release described the prosecution of an advertising printing company. A maintenance worker was killed while attempting to repair an industrial overhead door. 

The firm had allowed the powered sectional doors (which fall within the remit of PUWER) to fall into a poor state of repair, through lack of routine inspection and preventative maintenance – exactly what PUWER is designed to ensure. It led to the tragic loss of life and a £400,000 fine.

Get expert help

Every workplace death is a tragedy. In HSE’s latest annual fatal injury statistics, contact with moving machinery remains a significant cause of workplace fatalities, with many more workers injured in machinery-related incidents each year.

Whether it is implementing an inspection routine, developing risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) or designing training, we can use our experience at The Health and Safety Dept to help you. Please get in touch today to get help with PUWER.