PUWER is the short name for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. They require work equipment to be suitable for the job, kept in safe working order, and used only by people who have the right information and training. On a construction site, the practical message for you is clear: do not use a tool or machine unless you have been trained and authorised to use it.
Key takeaways
- PUWER applies to all work equipment, from a hand tool or ladder to a dumper truck or a large machine.
- Equipment must be suitable for the task and the conditions where it is used.
- Equipment must be maintained in efficient working order and good repair, and inspected where the risk calls for it.
- People who use or supervise equipment must receive adequate information, instruction and training.
- Where equipment carries a specific risk, only people given that task may use it, and only designated, trained people may repair or modify it.
- Never remove a guard or bypass a safety device to make a job quicker.
What PUWER covers
The regulations define work equipment broadly: any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work. That includes simple items such as hammers and ladders, power tools such as saws and drills, and larger plant such as dumper trucks. The regulations also cover how equipment is used, which includes starting and stopping it, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing and cleaning it.
The duties fall mainly on employers, the self-employed, and anyone who has control of the equipment or of the people who use it. On a busy site, that often means several organisations share the responsibility: the contractor who supplies the machine, the firm that hires it in, and the supervisor who directs its use. As a worker, you also have your own duties to use equipment as you were trained and to report faults. PUWER sits alongside other rules. Lifting operations are covered by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). If you are unsure which rules apply to a particular machine, ask your supervisor rather than guessing.
What PUWER requires
The table below summarises the main requirements in plain English, drawn from regulations 4 to 9, 11 and 19 to 23 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It is a study aid, not a substitute for the regulations themselves, which you can read on legislation.gov.uk using the link in the Sources section.
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Suitability | The equipment must be suitable for the task and for the place and conditions where it will be used. A tool built for light use should not be pushed into heavy work. |
| Maintenance | Equipment must be kept in efficient working order and in good repair. Faulty items are taken out of use until fixed. |
| Inspection | Where safety depends on how equipment is installed, or where wear could lead to danger, a competent person must inspect it at suitable intervals and keep a record where required. |
| Specific risks | Where equipment carries a particular risk, only people given the task of using it may do so. Repair, modification and maintenance are limited to designated people with the right training. |
| Information and instructions | Users and supervisors must have clear, understandable information and written instructions where they are needed. |
| Training | Anyone who uses equipment, and anyone who supervises or manages its use, must be adequately trained for health and safety purposes. |
| Guarding | Dangerous parts of machinery must be guarded so that people cannot reach them, or the movement must stop before anyone can. |
| Controls | Start and stop controls must be easy to identify and reach, and machines need an accessible emergency stop where appropriate. |
| Isolation | There must be a way to cut equipment off from its sources of energy, such as electricity, for maintenance and cleaning. |
| Stability, lighting, markings and warnings | Equipment must be stable, well lit where used, and carry the markings and warnings needed for safe use. |
Mobile equipment, such as site vehicles and plant that carries people or moves under its own power, has additional requirements. The related guide on plant and vehicle safety deals with those.
Why only competent people should use equipment
Many site injuries involve a tool or machine used by someone who did not know how to use it safely, or who had not been shown how to guard against its dangers. PUWER addresses this directly. The training and information duties exist so that you understand how the equipment works, what can go wrong, and how to stop it.
Restricting use is part of the same thinking. When a machine carries a specific risk, such as a rotating blade or a moving boom, the regulations expect the employer to limit its use to people who have been given that task. Repairs, changes and maintenance are limited further, to people who are designated and trained to do that work. This is why you should not "have a go" on a colleague's machine, borrow plant that nobody has briefed you on, or attempt your own repair on a faulty tool.
Being competent is more than holding a card. It means you have the training, the experience and the understanding to do the task safely, and you know your limits. If a task is beyond them, you stop and ask. Nobody should pressure you to use equipment you are not trained for, and you should tell your supervisor if they do.
Guards and safety devices
Guards, interlocks, emergency stops and similar devices exist because the danger cannot be removed in any other way. Taking off a guard "just for this cut", wedging a switch or disabling an alarm defeats the control that PUWER requires. If a guard gets in the way of the job, the answer is to report it so that a safe alternative can be found, not to remove it.
What to do before you use equipment
Use this checklist at the start of a job. It is general good practice that reflects the PUWER requirements, and your site rules may add to it.
- Check that you have been trained and authorised for this equipment and this task.
- Read or ask about the instructions and any warnings or markings on the item.
- Look for visible damage, loose parts, damaged cables or missing guards before each use.
- Check that the controls work, including stop and emergency stop controls where fitted.
- Make sure the equipment suits the job and the conditions, such as wet ground, confined space or poor light.
- Confirm that the maintenance and inspection status is acceptable, for example by checking any tag, label or record your site uses.
- Keep other people clear of the work area, and wear the PPE you were told to wear. See PPE on site.
- Isolate equipment from its power before cleaning, adjusting or clearing a blockage.
- Stop and report any defect. Do not use equipment you believe is unsafe.
Practice check
These two questions are original practice items written for this site. They are not official test questions, and practising here does not give you an official result. This site is independent and is not affiliated with CSCS or CITB.
Question 1. A colleague asks you to use a machine you have never been trained on because they are short of time. What should you do?
- A. Use it carefully, as other people do it all the time.
- B. Watch them for a minute and then start.
- C. Decline, and tell your supervisor you have not been trained or authorised.
- D. Use it only if the guard has been taken off.
Answer: C. PUWER expects people who use equipment to have adequate training and, for risky equipment, to be given that task. Using it untrained puts you and others at risk.
Question 2. Before using a power tool, you notice a damaged cable. What is the correct action?
- A. Tape it up and carry on.
- B. Use the tool at a lower setting.
- C. Finish the job, then report it.
- D. Do not use it, and report the defect so it can be taken out of use.
Answer: D. Equipment must be kept in good repair, so defective items should be taken out of use and reported, not repaired informally by whoever happens to be nearby.
For more practice, see our free practice questions.
FAQ
Does PUWER apply to hand tools and ladders?
Yes. PUWER covers any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation used at work, so hand tools, power tools and ladders are all included. The level of formality varies, but the duty to keep them suitable and in good repair applies to all of them.
Who is responsible for complying with PUWER?
The main duties fall on employers, the self-employed and people who control the equipment or the people using it. Workers also have duties to use equipment as trained and to report defects. On site, responsibility is often shared between several organisations.
Can I carry out repairs on a tool if I know how?
Only if you have been designated and trained to do that work. Where equipment carries a specific risk, the regulations limit repair, modification and maintenance to designated people with the right training. If you are unsure, report the fault instead.
Is PUWER on the CITB HS&E test?
Work equipment safety is part of the knowledge you need on site, but check the official CITB pages for the current test content. The CITB Operatives page gives the test format, which is 50 questions in 45 minutes with a pass mark of 90%, so at least 45 of 50. See our Operatives test format page for more.
Sources
- HSE: Work equipment and machinery (PUWER)
- Legislation.gov.uk: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- CITB: Operatives test
Independent guide, not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Last updated 2026-10-08.