PUWER INSPECTIONS & PUWER REGULATIONS
PUWER – Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
This legislation is also general, in as much as it applies to all work equipment, and any activity involving work equipment. It also contains specific requirements for mobile work equipment and power presses. It may also need to be considered in conjunction with LOLER regulations (see next section).
“Work equipment” means any equipment used by an employee at work.
Regulation 6 of PUWER requires owners and users or work equipment to carry out a risk assessment to establish in-service inspection requirements. If the inspection is indicated by the risk assessment, a written scheme of inspection needs to prepare, detailing the scope and frequency of periodic inspections.
Part 4 of PUWER is specific to the safe use of power presses. This states that all power presses with automatic, interlocking or photo-electric guards are thoroughly examined every 6 months. Those with fixed guards or enclosed tools should be thoroughly examined every 12 months.
| Description | Typical Inspection Frequency (subject to risk assessment) |
| Atmospheric storage tanks |
12
|
| Bailing machines/presses |
12
|
| Bulldozers |
12
|
| Conveyors |
12/6
|
| Dock Levellers |
12
|
| Drilling Machines |
12
|
| Guillotines |
6/12
|
| Gymnastic equipment |
12
|
| Injection molding machines |
12
|
| Ladders and steps |
12
|
| Lathes |
12
|
| Lighting rigs |
12
|
| Manual presses |
12
|
| Milling machines |
12
|
| Pallet trucks |
12
|
| Platten machines |
12
|
| Power presses |
12
|
| Non-statutory presses |
12
|
| Ramps |
12
|
| Roller shutter doors |
12
|
| Storage racking |
12
|
| Waste compactors |
12
|
| Woodworking machinery |
12
|