United Kingdom High-risk taskVersion 1Updated September 25, 2026

PUWER compliance checklist

Free PUWER compliance checklist for one item of work equipment: suitability, maintenance, inspection, training, guarding and controls, from HSE guidance.

How often: Set by your organisation through risk assessment, taking account of the manufacturer's recommendations. Check again after major changes, damage or a change in how the equipment is used.

Sections
9
Checks
53
Critical
3
Sources
55

0/52 answered

0%

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1

Equipment name, make and model *

2

Asset number or serial number

3

Where the equipment is used *

4

Type of equipment *

5

Date of this check *

6

Name of the person carrying out the check *

Run it with your team in Conformata

  • Schedule it per site and assign it to the right people.
  • Turn every failed check into a corrective action that someone else verifies.
  • Keep signatures, photos and the full audit history across sites.
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Frequently asked questions

What does PUWER require?

HSE sums it up as equipment that is suitable for its intended use, safe for use and maintained in a safe condition [25], used by people who have had adequate training [54], and protected by measures such as guarding, emergency stop devices, isolation, and clear markings and warning devices [15].

How often does work equipment need to be inspected under PUWER?

There is no single interval. The need for inspection and how often it happens should be decided through risk assessment [39]. Inspections range from quick checks before use, such as cable condition on hand-held power tools or testing brakes and lights on mobile machinery [43], to more detailed checks at longer intervals. Record the result and keep the record at least until the next inspection [45].

Who can carry out a PUWER inspection?

Anyone with enough knowledge and experience of the equipment [35] to know what to look at, what to look for and what to do if they find a problem [36]. The inspection should concentrate on the safety-related parts needed for safe operation [46].

Do I have to keep a maintenance log?

No. HSE says there is no requirement to keep a maintenance log, but recommends keeping maintenance records for high-risk equipment [32]. Where a machine does have a maintenance log, it must be kept up to date [12].

Built from 55 official sources

Every check traces to the text it is based on. Read the purpose, how to use it, the rules behind it, what it does not cover and every source.

Guidance, not legal advice. It does not replace the law, the manufacturer's instructions or your organization's competent people, and completing it does not certify that work is safe.