Work Equipment Inspection & Compliance
Cert Safe Inspection Services Ltd provides independent inspection services for a wide range of work equipment and machinery covered by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
PUWER applies to a broad range of machinery, equipment, appliances, tools and installations used at work. The regulations place responsibilities on employers, relevant self-employed persons and those who have control over work equipment to ensure that equipment is suitable, safe to use, properly maintained and, where necessary, inspected.
Our inspections are designed to help dutyholders identify deterioration, defects and safety-related issues before they develop into more serious risks, while providing a clear record of the inspection undertaken.
What is PUWER?
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, commonly known as PUWER, establish requirements for the safe provision and use of work equipment.
Work equipment has a very broad definition and can include machinery, appliances, apparatus, tools and installations used at work.
PUWER requires work equipment to be suitable for its intended use, maintained in a safe condition and used by people who have received appropriate information, instruction and training. Appropriate safeguards, controls, emergency stopping arrangements and means of isolation must also be provided where required.
Where necessary, equipment must be inspected to ensure that it remains safe to use.
Why Does Work Equipment Need to Be Inspected?
The purpose of an inspection is to establish whether work equipment can continue to be operated, adjusted and maintained safely, while identifying deterioration or other defects before they result in a health and safety risk.
Not every item of work equipment requires the same level of formal inspection. The need for inspection, its scope and the frequency should be determined according to the equipment, its use, the environment in which it operates and the risks involved.
Where equipment is exposed to conditions that could cause deterioration and result in a dangerous situation, suitable inspections are required. Inspections may also be necessary following installation, relocation, significant modification or exceptional circumstances that could have affected the safety of the equipment.
What Equipment Can be Inspected?
CSIS provides PUWER inspection services across a wide range of work equipment, including:
Industrial & Workshop Equipment
- Machinery
- Workshop machinery
- Engineering equipment
- Production machinery
- Manufacturing equipment
- Material handling equipment
- Bench-mounted machinery
- Powered tools and equipment
Access & Building Equipment
- Powered doors
- Automatic doors
- Powered gates
- Industrial doors
- Roller shutters
- Loading doors
- Other powered access equipment
Material Handling Equipment
- Pallet trucks
- Electric pallet trucks
- Powered pallet trucks
- Order pickers
- Warehouse equipment
- Other non-lifting material handling equipment
Automotive & Workshop Equipment
- Vehicle workshop equipment
- Garage equipment
- Vehicle lifting equipment where applicable
- Workshop machinery
- Other powered equipment
Other Work Equipment
We can also inspect a wide range of other machinery, appliances, apparatus, tools and installations depending on the equipment and the requirements of the inspection.
If you are unsure whether your equipment requires a PUWER inspection, contact us to discuss your requirements.
What Does a PUWER Inspection Cover?
The scope of an inspection depends on the type of equipment, how it is used and the risks associated with its operation. Our Engineer Surveyor will assess relevant safety-related components and features appropriate to the equipment. Depending on the equipment, this may include consideration of:
- General condition
- Structural integrity
- Guarding
- Safety devices
- Emergency stop systems
- Start and stop controls
- Control systems
- Electrical components
- Hydraulic systems
- Pneumatic systems
- Mechanical components
- Moving parts
- Access points
- Protective devices
- Warning devices
- Safety signage and markings
- Isolation arrangements
- Damage and deterioration
- Corrosion
- Excessive wear
- Leaks
- Security of components
- Manufacturer's safety requirements
- Previous inspection findings
The inspection is tailored to the equipment and is not simply a generic checklist. HSE guidance states that an inspection should concentrate on safety-related parts necessary for safe operation and may, depending on the equipment, require testing or dismantling.
How Often Should Equipment Be Inspected?
Though generally every 12 months there is no single inspection interval that applies to all equipment under PUWER. The appropriate frequency should be determined through risk assessment, taking account of factors such as:
- The type of equipment
- How frequently it is used
- The conditions in which it operates
- The environment
- The manufacturer's recommendations
- The potential consequences of equipment failure
- Previous inspection findings
- Industry guidance
- The level of deterioration experienced
Equipment exposed to harsh conditions or heavy use may require more frequent inspection than equipment operating in a controlled environment. Inspection intervals should therefore be based on the actual risks associated with the equipment rather than applying a standard frequency to every item.
When is an Inspection Required?
PUWER Regulation 6 identifies circumstances where inspection is necessary to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained. This can include:
Legal Responsibilities
Under PUWER, employers and others with responsibility or control over work equipment have legal duties to ensure that equipment is suitable for its intended use, safe to use, properly maintained and used by people with adequate information, instruction and training.
Where inspection is necessary, the dutyholder must ensure that suitable inspection arrangements are established and that inspections are carried out by a person with sufficient knowledge and experience to identify relevant defects and understand what action is required.
Inspection records should be retained appropriately, with HSE recommending that inspection results are recorded and retained at least until the next inspection. Work equipment requiring inspection should not be used where the required inspection has not taken place.
The responsibility for ensuring that work equipment remains safe and that applicable legal requirements are met remains with the relevant dutyholder.
Who Can Carry Out an PUWER Inspection?
PUWER does not require every inspection to be carried out by an external inspection company. The person carrying out an inspection must have sufficient knowledge and experience of the equipment to understand:
- What needs to be examined
- What defects or deterioration to look for
- What action should be taken if a problem is identified
The level of competence required will depend on the equipment, its complexity, how it is used and the risks involved. For more complex or higher-risk equipment, an independent competent inspection service can provide an additional level of assurance and professional reporting.
Cert Safe Inspection Services Ltd provides independent inspection services for a wide range of work equipment.
What Happens After the Inspection?
Following the inspection, we provide a clear report detailing the equipment inspected and the findings identified. Reports can include:
- Equipment identification
- Location
- Inspection date
- Inspection scope
- Safety-related findings
- Defects
- Deterioration
- Required remedial action
- Relevant observations
- Inspection frequency or next inspection date where applicable
Our reports are designed to provide the dutyholder with a clear record of the inspection and help identify where remedial action may be required.
What Happens if a Defect is Found?
Where a defect is identified, it will be recorded within the inspection report. The appropriate action will depend on the nature and severity of the defect.
Some defects may require monitoring or remedial action within a specified period, while significant safety defects may require the equipment to be removed from service until the problem has been rectified.
The dutyholder is responsible for ensuring that appropriate action is taken and that unsafe equipment is not used.
Where appropriate, we can provide clear observations within our report to help the dutyholder understand the significance of the finding.
PUWER & Maintenance
Inspection Does Not Replace Maintenance
A PUWER inspection is not a substitute for maintenance or servicing.
PUWER requires work equipment to be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Maintenance arrangements should be appropriate to the equipment and its use.
Routine maintenance, servicing, operator checks and PUWER inspections all have different purposes and should form part of an effective equipment management system.
An inspection identifies whether equipment can continue to be operated safely at the time of inspection. It does not remove the requirement for ongoing maintenance or routine checks.
PUWER & LOLER
When Equipment Falls Under Both Regulations
Some equipment can be subject to both PUWER and LOLER. For example, a forklift truck has lifting functions that may bring it within LOLER, while other aspects of its safe use and condition are addressed under PUWER.
Similarly, lifting equipment must be maintained and inspected as required under PUWER, while LOLER establishes additional requirements relating specifically to lifting equipment and Thorough Examination.
Where both sets of regulations apply, compliance with one does not remove the requirements of the other.
PUWER For Businesses & Facilities Managers
Managing work equipment across multiple departments or sites can make inspection programmes difficult to coordinate.
CSIS can provide scheduled inspection services for individual items, complete sites or larger equipment portfolios.
We can inspect multiple categories of equipment during planned visits where appropriate, helping businesses maintain a structured record of their work equipment inspections. Our services can support:
- Facilities managers
- Property managers
- Commercial landlords
- Manufacturing businesses
- Warehouses
- Distribution centres
- Workshops
- Construction companies
- Automotive businesses
- Care providers
- Retail businesses
- Industrial facilities
- Multi-site organisations
Our Approach
Independent. Thorough. Clear. At Cert Safe Inspection Services Ltd, we understand that an inspection report needs to be useful to the person responsible for the equipment. Our approach is focused on:
Independent Inspection
Impartial inspection services independent of equipment manufacturers and maintenance providers.
Competent Assessment
Inspection of relevant safety-critical components appropriate to the equipment.
Clear Reporting
Straightforward reports identifying defects, deterioration and areas requiring attention.
Practical Service
Flexible inspection arrangements for individual items, sites and larger equipment portfolios.
Ongoing Support
Inspection programmes can be arranged to help businesses manage recurring inspection requirements.
Why Choose Cert Safe Inspection Services?
Independent
Independent inspection services without a requirement to sell maintenance or repair work.
Experienced
Experience across a broad range of lifting, industrial and workplace equipment.
Clear Reports
Professional reports designed to clearly communicate findings to the responsible person.
Wide Equipment Coverage
From powered gates and machinery to material handling equipment and industrial plant.
Local & Nationwide
Based in High Wycombe, providing services throughout Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and surrounding areas, with nationwide coverage available.
Need a PUWER Inspection?
Make Sure Your Work Equipment Is Being Properly Managed
Whether you operate a single machine, a workshop, warehouse or multiple commercial sites, Cert Safe Inspection Services Ltd can provide independent PUWER inspection services tailored to your equipment and circumstances.
Tell us what equipment you have and where it is located.