Regulations require

You must ensure that the work equipment you
provide meets the requirements of PUWER. In doing
so, you should ensure that it is:

■ suitable for use, and for the purpose and
conditions in which it is used;

■ maintained in a safe condition for use so that
people’s health and safety is not at risk; and

■ inspected in certain circumstances to ensure
that it is, and continues to be, safe for use. Any
inspection should be carried out by a competent
person (this could be an employee if they have
the necessary competence to perform the task)
and a record kept until the next inspection.
You should also ensure that risks, created by the use
of the equipment, are eliminated where possible
or controlled by:

■ taking appropriate ‘hardware’ measures, eg
providing suitable guards, protection devices,
markings and warning devices, system control
devices (such as emergency stop buttons) and
personal protective equipment; and

■ taking appropriate ‘software’ measures such
as following safe systems of work (eg ensuring
maintenance is only performed when equipment
is shut down etc), and providing adequate
information, instruction and training.