INTRODUCTION
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) lay down important health and safety laws for the provision and use of work equipment. They also reform and rationalise the old machinery guarding laws. The regulations include:
(i) definition of who has duties
(ii) general duties covering selection of suitable equipment,
maintenance, inspection, information and instructions,
training etc.
(iii)ensuring that equipment is able to control selected hazards.
Both 'use' and 'work equipment' are broadly defined as follows:
'use' - means any activity involving work equipment and includes starting, stopping, programming, setting, transporting, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing and cleaning.
'work equipment' - means any machinery, appliance, apparatus or tool or assembly of components that function as a whole.
By way of example, the following is a non-exhaustive list of work equipment subject to the regulations:
automatic car wash, car ramp, scaffolding, computer, portable drill, pressure vessel, lift truck, soldering iron, laser checkouts, vehicle hoist, meat cleaver, beer pumps, ladder, hand saw, and socket set
PUWER should be linked in with the Management of Health, Safety at Work Regulations; for example with the requirement for risk assessment regarding the selection of 'suitable' work equipment.
