Finance Editor, Kael Tripton Ltd - LBS MBA - Verified against FCA Handbook: 14 June 2026
Quick answer
PUWER 1998 applies to all work equipment from hand tools to industrial machinery. Equipment must be suitable, safe and maintained. Guards must follow the hierarchy: fixed guards first, then interlocked, then other protection, then PPE as last resort. Inspections required after installation and at appropriate intervals. Training is mandatory before use.
What Are PUWER Regulations and What Do They Require?
Direct answer
What does PUWER require for work equipment?
PUWER 1998 (legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306) requires all work equipment to be suitable for use, safe, maintained, and inspected after installation and at appropriate intervals. Guards for dangerous parts follow a hierarchy: fixed guards first, then interlocked, then other protection devices, then PPE last. All workers must be trained before using equipment. Defective equipment must be taken out of service.
Identify all work equipment
List all equipment from hand tools to machines. Check each is suitable for the intended use and in a safe condition.
Schedule PUWER inspections
Inspect after installation, after assembly at a new location, and at intervals appropriate to the deterioration risk.
Install and maintain guards
Check all dangerous parts have appropriate guards. Inspect guards regularly. Do not allow guards to be removed or bypassed.
Provide training before use
No worker should use work equipment without appropriate training. Keep training records.
Take defective equipment out of service
Damaged or defective work equipment must be labelled out of service and not used until repaired or replaced.
| Guard type | PUWER preference order | When used |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed guard | First choice | When access to dangerous parts is not needed during normal operation |
| Interlocked guard | Second | When access is needed occasionally -- machine stops when guard opens |
| Other protection devices (presence sensing, two-hand control) | Third | When interlocked guard is not practicable |
| Jigs, holders, push-sticks | Fourth | Where guards are not practicable but hands must be kept away |
| Personal protective equipment | Last resort only | Never first choice for machine guarding |
Related KT guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What are PUWER Regulations?
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER, SI 1998/2306) require that work equipment provided for or used at work is: suitable for the intended use, safe for use, maintained in a safe condition, inspected to ensure it is properly installed and safe to use, used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training, and accompanied by suitable safety measures (guards, warnings, etc.). PUWER applies to all work equipment from hand tools to large machinery.
What does PUWER require for machinery inspections?
Under PUWER Regulation 6, work equipment must be inspected by a competent person after installation and before first use, and after assembly at a new location. For equipment with deteriorating conditions that could cause significant risk, inspections must be carried out at intervals agreed with the competent person. Inspection records must be kept and be available on request from HSE. PUWER inspection requirements work alongside LOLER for lifting equipment and the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations for pressure equipment.
What guards are required under PUWER?
PUWER Regulation 11-19 set out guarding requirements for dangerous parts of machinery. Fixed guards are the preferred solution where practicable. Where fixed guards are not practicable, other measures must be used in a specific order: interlocked guards, other guards and protection devices, jigs, holders, push-sticks, information and instruction, and only finally personal protective equipment. Guards must not create additional hazards and must not be easily bypassed or disabled.
Does PUWER apply to hand tools?
Yes. PUWER applies to all work equipment including hand tools (hammers, screwdrivers, chisels, power tools). For hand tools, the main PUWER requirements are: the tool must be suitable for the intended task, maintained in good condition, and workers must have received appropriate instruction and training. Damaged hand tools (cracked handles, worn cutting edges, defective guards on power tools) must be taken out of service.
What information and training is required under PUWER?
PUWER Regulation 8 requires that workers who use work equipment have received adequate health and safety information and written instructions (where appropriate) about the conditions of use, foreseeable abnormal situations, and conclusions from experience of using the equipment. Training (Regulation 9) must be appropriate to the specific work equipment and include the methods of use, risks and precautions. Supervisors of work equipment users must also be trained.
Primary sources
Kael Tripton Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office under registration number ZC135439.
