The primary objective of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations (PUWER 98) is to ensure that work equipment does not
result in risks to health and safety regardless of its age,
condition or origin.
PUWER 98 covers almost any equipment used at work, including
tools such as hammers, machines such as photocopiers, laboratory
apparatus such as Bunsen burners, equipment such as ladders,
lifting equipment such as lift trucks and non-privately owned
motor vehicles.
PUWER 98 applies to all employers, self-employed persons and
anyone who has control of work equipment supplied for use at
work.
Suitability and Maintenance
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 4 - SUITABILITY OF WORK EQUIPMENT
Employers must ensure that work equipment is suitable, by design,
construction or adaptation, for the work it is provided to do.
The location in which work equipment is to be used must be taken
into account, together with any additional risks posed by the
work equipment itself.
Work equipment must also be suitable for the actual process or
operation for which it is used, and the conditions of use.
Ergonomic risks posed by work equipment should be evaluated so
that operation of the equipment does not place undue strain on
the operator.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 5 - MAINTENANCE
Employers must ensure that work equipment is maintained in an
efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
If a maintenance log is kept, it must be kept up-to-date.
Inspection
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 6 - INSPECTION
An inspection of work equipment should be carried out where there
is a significant risk from:
(a) incorrect installation or re-installation of the equipment
(b) deterioration of the equipment;
(c) exceptional circumstances which could affect safe operation.
The inspection should always include any parts which are necessary
for safe operation, such as warning devices and limit switches.
Records of inspections must be made and kept until the next
inspection is recorded.
Any work equipment which is passed on to another employer must be
accompanied by physical evidence that the last inspection has been
carried out.
Specific Risks
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 7 - SPECIFIC RISKS
Where the use of work equipment is likely to involve a specific
risk to health or safety, the use of such equipment must be
restricted to those persons given the task of using it. They
must have received appropriate training to enable them to use
the equipment safely.
Where the use of work equipment is likely to involve a specific
risk to health or safety, repair and maintenance etc must be
restricted to persons designated to do such work. They must
have received adequate training to enable them to carry out the
work safely.
Information, Instruction and Training
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 8 - INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
Employees have a duty to make available all relevant health and
safety information and written instructions on the use of work
equipment to their work force. This information should also be
available to supervisors and managers.
Information can be in writing, or given verbally, whichever is
most appropriate.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 9 - TRAINING
Employers must provide adequate training to persons who use work
equipment, and to those who supervise or manage them.
Self-propelled work equipment must only be driven by workers who
have received appropriate training in the safe driving of such
equipment.
Conformity with European Requirements
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 10 - CONFORMITY WITH COMMUNITY REQUIREMENTS
Every employer shall ensure that items of work equipment
have been designed and constructed in compliance with
legislation implementing any product Directive which is
relevant to the equipment.
Dangerous Parts and Specified Hazards
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 11 - DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY
Employers must ensure that measures are taken to prevent access
to dangerous parts of machinery or to a rotating stock-bar, or
to stop the movement of dangerous parts of machinery or rotating
stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.
The measures to be taken shall be selected from, in order:
the provision of fixed enclosing guards
the provision of other guards or protection devices
the provision of protection appliances eg jigs, push-sticks etc
the provision of information, instruction, training & supervision.
All guards and protection devices must:
be suitable for the purpose for which they are provided
be of good construction, sound material and adequate strength
be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair
not give rise to any increased risk to health or safety
not be easily bypassed or disabled
be situated at sufficient distance from the danger zone
not unduly restrict the view of the operating cycle of the machine
be so constructed or adapted that they allow operations necessary
to fit or replace parts and for maintenance work.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 12 - PROTECTION AGAINST SPECIFIED HAZARDS
Employers must ensure that employees are not
exposed to risks from a list of specified hazards.
Where possible, equipment should be designed so that
risks to health and safety are prevented.
If this is not reasonably practicable, steps should
be taken to reduce the risk.
The hazards specified are:
material falling or being ejected from equipment
parts of equipment breaking off or disintegrating
equipment catching fire or overheating
discharge of a substance from inside equipment
explosion of equipment or any substance inside it.
High or Very Low Temperature
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 13 - HIGH OR VERY LOW TEMPERATURE
Employers must take measures to reduce the risk of injury from
contact with hot or very cold surfaces of work equipment, parts
of work equipment, or articles or substances inside the work equipment.
The risk from contact with hot or very cold surfaces or process
materials should be reduced by engineering controls where possible.
Alternative or complementary forms of protection may also be
necessary, such as the provision of PPE, warning signs,
operating instructions etc.
Controls and Control Systems
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 14 - CONTROLS FOR STARTING OR MAKING A
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OPERATING CONDITIONS
Where appropriate, one or more controls must be provided
for the purpose of starting or re-starting work equipment,
and for controlling any change in speed, pressure or other
operating conditions unless the change does not increase
risks to health and safety.
The controls provided should be designed and positioned so
as to prevent accidental operation, and it should not be
possible for the control to operate itself, eg by gravity
or vibration.
Controls are not appropriate for changing the operating
conditions of automatic machinery where such changes are
part of the normal operating cycle.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 15 - STOP CONTROLS
Where appropriate, work equipment must be provided with
a readily accessible control, the operation of which
should bring the equipment to a safe condition in a safe manner.
The stop control does not have to be instantaneous, and
it may not be desirable to bring the equipment to a
complete stop if this would result in other risks.
The stop control should switch off all sources of energy
from the equipment after it has stopped if necessary to
minimise risks to health and safety.
The stop control should take priority over any operating
or start control.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 16 - EMERGENCY STOP CONTROLS
An emergency stop control should be provided where
other safeguards are not adequate to prevent risk
when an irregular event occurs.
Emergency stops should not be used as functional
stops during normal operation.
They should be provided at every control point and
at other appropriate locations around the equipment,
and should be easily reached and actuated.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 17 - CONTROLS
All controls for work equipment shall be clearly visible and
identifiable. It should be possible to identify easily what
each control does and on which equipment it takes effect.
Controls should not be placed where anyone using them might
be exposed to a risk to their health and safety.
Controls should be positioned so that operators of equipment
are able to see from the control position that no-one is at
risk from anything they set going.
Where persons could be put at risk due to the starting or
stopping of work equipment, appropriate measures shall be
taken to ensure they have sufficient time and suitable means
of avoiding the risk.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 18 - CONTROL SYSTEMS
The operation of a control system should not cause any increased
risk to health or safety.
Failure of any part of the control system or its power supply
should lead to a `fail-safe' condition which should not impede
the operation of any stop or emergency stop controls.
Isolation from Sources of Energy
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 19 - ISOLATION FROM SOURCES OF ENERGY
Where appropriate, work equipment must be provided with suitable
means to isolate it from all its sources of energy.
Isolation means establishing a break in the energy supply in a
secure manner, ie by ensuring that inadvertent reconnection is
not possible.
The means of isolation must be clearly identifiable and readily accessible.
Precautions must be taken to ensure that people are not put at
risk following reconnection of the energy source.
Stability, Lighting and Maintenance Operations
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 20 - STABILITY
Work equipment, or any part of work equipment, must be
stabilised by clamping or otherwise where necessary for
the purposes of health or safety.
Where ballasting or counterbalancing is employed for
portable equipment, the stabilising method should be
re-appraised each time the equipment is re-positioned.
Equipment which cannot be clamped or fixed due to its
design or construction must always be used within the
limits of its stability.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 21 - LIGHTING
Any place where a person uses work equipment should
be suitably and sufficiently lit.
If the ambient lighting is suitable and sufficient,
special lighting need not be provided, but where the
work involves the perception of detail for example,
additional lighting may need to be provided.
Local lighting on the equipment itself may be needed
to suitably illuminate the task.
Additional lighting should be provided in areas not
covered by general lighting when work such as repair
or maintenance is carried out.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 22 - MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Maintenance work which might involve a risk to health or safety
should, where reasonably practicable, be carried out with the
equipment shut down.
If equipment has to be running during a maintenance operation
and this presents a risk, measures should be taken to enable
the equipment to be operated in a way that reduces the risk.
Markings and Warnings
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 23 - MARKINGS
Employers shall ensure that work equipment is marked in a
clearly visible manner with any marking appropriate for
reasons of health and safety.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 24 - WARNINGS
Employers must ensure that work equipment incorporates any
warnings or warning devices which are appropriate for
reasons of health and safety.
Warnings must be unambiguous, easily perceived and easily understood.
Mobile Work Equipment
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 25 - EMPLOYEES CARRIED ON MOBILE WORK EQUIPMENT
Mobile work equipment utilised to carry employees must be
suitable for carrying persons and must incorporate safety
features designed to reduce to as low as is reasonably
practicable risks to their safety, including risks from
wheels or tracks.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 26 - ROLLING OVER OF MOBILE WORK EQUIPMENT
Where an employee riding on mobile work equipment is at risk from
its rolling over, the risk must be minimised by:
stabilising the work equipment
a structure which restricts the roll over to 90 degrees
a structure which gives sufficient clearance if roll over is more than 90 degrees, or
a device giving comparable protection.
Where the operator is at risk from being crushed by mobile work
equipment in the event of its rolling over, a restraining system
such as a seat belt should be provided if it is possible to fit
one.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 27 - OVERTURNING OF FORK LIFT TRUCKS
Fork lift trucks fitted with either a vertical mast or a
roll over protective structure should be provided with
a restraining system such as a seat belt if the fork lift
truck could overturn and there is a risk of the operator
being crushed between the truck and the ground.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 28 - SELF-PROPELLED WORK EQUIPMENT
Self-propelled work equipment which poses a risk to persons whilst
in motion must be prevented from un-authorised start up.
If a collision of rail mounted work equipment can be foreseen,
safety precautions must be provided to control the risks involved.
All self-propelled mobile work equipment should have brakes to
enable it to slow down and stop in a safe distance and park safely.
Where there are significant risks associated with failure of the
main braking device, a secondary braking system is required.
Where the driver's direct field of vision is inadequate to ensure
safety, visibility aids or devices should be provided.
Self-propelled work equipment for use at night or in dark places
must be provided with appropriate lighting.
Where escape from self-propelled work equipment in the event of a
fire could not be easily achieved, appropriate fire fighting
equipment must be carried on the equipment or be kept close to it.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 29 - REMOTE-CONTROLLED SELF-PROPELLED WORK EQUIPMENT
Remote-controlled self-propelled work equipment is self-
propelled work equipment that is operated by controls
which have no physical link with it, such as radio control.
Pendant controlled work equipment is not covered by Reg 29.
Where remote-controlled self-propelled work equipment
involves a risk to safety whilst in motion, it must stop
automatically once it leaves its control range.
Where the risk is of crushing or impact, safety features
such as presence sensing or contact devices should be incorporated.
SUMMARY OF REGULATION 30 - DRIVE SHAFTS
A drive shaft is a device which conveys power from mobile work
equipment to any work equipment connected to it.
If seizure of the drive shaft could lead to a risk to safety,
such as the ejection of parts in the event of equipment break
up, measures should be taken to protect against such risks.
To prevent damage to the drive shaft when it is uncoupled, the
drive shaft should be supported on a cradle or by other suitable
means. Drive shafts should not be dropped onto the ground.