Equipment safety

Work equipment is any equipment which is used by an employee at work. This can range from a spanner to a tower crane. A range of legislation covers the design, manufacture and use of equipment. In particular the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply to Cheshire East Council.

Provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998 (PUWER)

In general terms, PUWER requires that equipment provided for use at work is:

• suitable for the intended use
• safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and, in certain circumstances, inspected to ensure this remains the case
• used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training
• accompanied by suitable safety measures, eg protective devices, markings, warnings

Full requirements of PUWER and a checklist for managers to complete for appropriate equipment can be found in the:

• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) guidance note and assessment form (MS Word, 156KB)