How do I prepare after booking a PUWER Assessment?

The short answer is: you don’t. A PUWER Inspection provides a comprehensive view of what a machine is, how it operates, and the safety systems in place.

Under the PUWER Regulations 1998, employers must ensure their machinery and work equipment comply with 37 regulatory requirements. These form the basis of the resulting PUWER Report. If a business alters procedures or makes changes purely to appear compliant before an assessment, it can create a misleading picture – a “false positive” – where equipment seems compliant but may not be in reality. This can result in hidden risks remaining unaddressed. If a business sets out an earnest plan for the sitewide update of all operating procedures and follows through with this, then this action would be a business improvement that would benefit a PUWER Report’s outcome.

Before we arrive on-site, the only information we require is:

• How many pieces of work equipment need assessing
• A general idea of what those machines areThis helps us allocate sufficient time for each assessment.

This helps us allocate sufficient time for each assessment. For example, a 50-metre process line with multiple sections and hundreds of moving parts will require a different evaluation to a single manual milling machine.

What if my machine is dangerous or unfit for purpose?

If a piece of equipment, or the procedures associated with it, are clearly unsafe, it is entirely appropriate to address the risk. However, it is essential to document the actions taken and the reasons behind them. Photographs are always beneficial.

During the PUWER Inspection, we can review any modifications and advise if further corrective action is needed.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for a PUWER Assessment?

No – unless the current situation poses immediate danger to personnel, equipment, or work is being implemented as a wider improvement project, it is best to leave everything as it is. Our role as PUWER Inspectors is to evaluate machinery safety under PUWER and provide clear, practical recommendations for achieving PUWER compliance. You will receive these within your PUWER Report.

It is important and helpful, but not essential, to brief your employees beforehand that the assessment will be taking place and encourage them to support our inspection. Operators often hold invaluable knowledge about how equipment behaves in real-world situations and this insight can be crucial to machinery safety compliance.

Recap: How to prepare for a PUWER Assessment

1. Making alterations for the sake of the assessment is unnecessary – unless it presents an immediate or serious danger
2. If changes are made, maintain accurate records
3. Provide accurate information about all equipment on site
4. Encourage a safety culture – operators know their machines better than anyone

If you have further questions about PUWER compliance, the team at ISS Safety is here to help. If you would like more content like this, please contact us with your questions – we may feature them in future blog posts to make this guidance even more useful to you.