PUWER was established under delegated powers enshrined in the Health and Safety at Work etc.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the statutory body in charge of enforcing PUWER.

The PUWER 1998 legislation replaced the 1992 regulations and seeks to address, control and prevent workers risk of injury and death from equipment they use during the course of their jobs.

When a CE mark is not relevant then responsibility of the equipment’s safety and up keeping can fall to the organisation.

The main requirements of PUWER for organisations are to ensure that the equipment used is suitable for its purpose, maintained to be safe and not risk health and safety and inspected at suitable intervals by a competent worker, who should record the results.