Work Equipment (PUWER) Directive

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) is the UK implementation of the European Work Equipment Directive. Work equipment is any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work (whether exclusively or not). This includes equipment which employees provide for their own use at work.

PUWER places duties on people and companies, who own, operate or have control over work equipment. It also places responsibilities on businesses and organisations whose employees use work equipment, whether owned by them or not.

HSE is the UK enforcement authority for PUWER and a wide range of guidance is available online.

One of the duties is to carry out an assessment of the work equipment before it is used for the first time, after it has been moved and at regular intervals thereafter. Standards may be used in order to assist with complying with PUWER, please see the section on the Machinery Directive for a list of applicable standards.

PPMA provide awareness training on the requirements of PUWER, please see the training section for further information.

Additional Work Equipment Directive Information

• HSE Work Equipment