Understanding PUWER: A Q&A with expert Kathryn Whitehurst

In this Q&A, Kathryn sheds light on some of the common challenges involved in PUWER assessments and shares her expert advice on how businesses can improve their approach to staying compliant and ensuring safety.

September 16, 2024

It only takes a short scroll through the headlines to see the consequences of not taking workplace health and safety seriously. From costly equipment malfunctions to tragic accidents, inadequate safety practices can lead to very severe repercussions for both employees and businesses. 

Occasionally, we hear businesses claim they don’t need an external PUWER assessment because they’ve conducted their own. However, when we look closer, this often means they’ve only completed a brief checklist with minimal follow-up and little understanding of what they’re looking for, leaving crucial gaps in safety and compliance.

This month, we’ve turned to our Project and Compliance Engineer, Kathryn to shed some light on why PUWER is so critical.

Let’s see what she has to say…

1) Firstly, hello! Please can you give a brief overview of what PUWER is and why it’s so important for businesses to comply with these regulations?

Hello – yes! And I’ll do my best to keep it brief…

PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. Operators of machinery often spend long periods of time controlling, adjusting and maintaining their work equipment. The PUWER regulations are in place to make sure that operators are safe while using the equipment, that any physical hazards have been eradicated, and that any risks to health have been eliminated. 

The health and safety of workers should be a priority for any business owner, and the design, installation, operating environment, warning signage, and information for use, are all factors that contribute to whether an accident occurs, or whether a site remains injury-free. 

When the PUWER assessment has been completed, you’ll get a detailed list of any hazards identified and suggested actions to remove/reduce those hazards. If an accident involving work equipment does occur, a thorough PUWER assessment will be a vital piece of evidence if the case ends up going to court.

Essentially, PUWER is important to carry out for the following reasons: 

• Helps to ensure the health and safety of workers
• Serves as crucial evidence in the case of a workplace accident 

2) What are the biggest challenges companies face when trying to comply with PUWER, and how can they overcome them?

This one is easy. The biggest challenge that I’ve encountered is businesses not having a health and safety mindset. Often, equipment that hasn’t been designed with safety at the forefront is still in use from the mid-20th century. If a thorough PUWER assessment is carried out, there are usually ways to continue using this equipment but with guarding in place: interlocked doors, correctly positioned light barriers etc.

The problem is that some factories are still using this decades-old equipment without having ever carried out a PUWER assessment on it,  and injuries and accidents happen that could easily be prevented. 

3) For businesses that are new to PUWER, what advice would you give them to ensure they start off on the right foot?

For new equipment:

If you’re purchasing new work equipment, a PUWER assessment is essential once the equipment is in place. The assessment goes beyond just the equipment itself – it evaluates factors such as lighting, the placement of isolator switches, and how operators will interact with both the equipment and its surroundings to ensure safe and effective use.

For existing equipment:

If you’ve got existing equipment, check your archives for an existing PUWER assessment. However, if there is no PUWER assessment, I’d recommend that you arrange for one to be carried out. 

If there is a PUWER assessment, have a look through it. 

• Is it thorough and up-to-date? 
• Have any significant changes been made to the equipment since the assessment was carried out? 
• Have any injuries or near-misses taken place which involved that equipment? 

PUWER is about providing safe equipment for your staff to use, so if you have any doubts about any of these things, I’d recommend arranging a PUWER assessment.

4) What are some effective strategies for getting employees engaged and committed to PUWER compliance?

The PUWER regulations exist to keep employees safe at work, specifically while using work equipment. It’s a comprehensive assessment with their health and safety as the number one priority, so employees should engage with PUWER compliance quite easily, as it’s there to keep them safe! 

In my experience, staff are usually very cooperative when I conduct PUWER assessments at various sites. Once they understand that the goal is to ensure their safety while operating the machinery, they’re more than willing to provide the information I need. Operators, in particular, are invaluable resources – they’re often the first to know about potential hazards, previous accidents, or near-misses. That’s why engaging with employees is so crucial when carrying out PUWER assessments.

5) What are your top three tips for businesses looking to improve their PUWER compliance today?

1. Arrange for an external PUWER assessment. While it’s possible to conduct this in-house, experts like us bring the experience and thoroughness needed to identify risks that might otherwise be overlooked.
2. Have a look at the machinery yourself, talk to the operators, and look for trends in your accident records – is a particular piece of equipment frequently causing accidents or near misses? How can you remove or reduce the hazard?
3. Follow any advice that you’re given by your PUWER assessor. Do your best to eliminate or reduce any hazards as far as reasonably practicable. Preventing an accident can be as simple as installing a fixed guard, or adding a warning sign, or a mandatory hearing protection sign, and it really is always easier to prevent an accident from happening at all than to deal with the consequences after an accident has happened.

6) What’s one thing about PUWER compliance that most people don’t know but should?

People don’t realise that PUWER assessments are always necessary. 

Whether it’s brand new, decades old, or imported from another site, if there isn’t a valid PUWER assessment for the equipment in its current location, one must be carried out to ensure safety and compliance.

7) Can just anyone do a PUWER assessment? Why is it beneficial to use pm Connections?

At pm Connections, our Machine Compliance department has conducted hundreds of PUWER assessments across sites throughout the UK. 

We take pride in our thorough, comprehensive approach to checking all types of work equipment. While anyone with sufficient knowledge and experience can carry out a PUWER assessment, at pm Connections, we go the extra mile. This includes continuous training to expand our expertise in machine compliance and developing tailored assessment documents, ensuring we use our time efficiently on-site.

Although companies can perform their own PUWER assessments – and we even offer PUWER awareness training for those interested – having a third-party assessor like pm Connections provides an unbiased, fresh perspective. We bring a critical eye to every assessment, identifying risks and issues that might be overlooked internally.

8) What are some of the consequences of not complying with PUWER? 

If an accident, illness, or injury occurs due to work equipment, its setup, or the environment it’s in, it’s crucial to have taken all “reasonably practicable” steps to prevent it. Failing to do so can result in serious consequences.

Firstly, by complying with PUWER, you can reduce the likelihood or severity of injury or illness. Secondly, in the event of legal action, you’ll need to demonstrate that you thoroughly assessed the equipment for potential hazards and took steps to eliminate or mitigate them. Being able to prove that you’ve done your due diligence in maintaining health and safety standards puts you in a far stronger position if litigation arises.

9) What inspired you to get involved in the health and safety industry?

My grandad used to work with asbestos on the dockyards in Barrow-in-Furness before the dangers of asbestos were really known about. He developed mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer linked to asbestos inhalation, and died before I was born. So, I’m very aware of the consequences of work-related illnesses and the importance of identifying and removing them wherever possible. Sadly, so many illnesses and injuries are avoidable.

Because of this experience, I have always had an interest in health and safety, and while doing my engineering degree, I was particularly keen to see how safety was integrated into engineering design.

I truly believe that most hazards can be engineered out and that we should live in a world where people aren’t in danger when they go to work. People should leave work in the same condition that they arrived.

10) Finally, it can be difficult to deal with legislation and regulations day in and day out. What helps you unwind from work, and what do you like to do for fun?

A great question! In my spare time, I like to knit my own jumpers, listen to music, and decorate my house. I also absolutely love doing escape rooms and puzzle books!

PUWER Assessments in Cheshire and the North West

WOW! So there we have it. A huge thank you to our Project and Compliance Engineer, Kathryn Whitehurst for sharing her valuable insights and expertise. 

As we’ve learned, PUWER assessments are essential for keeping work environments safe and mitigating the risks associated with machinery and equipment. So whether you’re dealing with new or existing equipment, struggling to engage employees, or looking to improve your compliance, the steps outlined in this Q&A can help guide you in the right direction.

If you’re based in Cheshire, the North West or elsewhere in the UK and need assistance with your PUWER assessments, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at pm Connections.

We’re here to help ensure that your equipment, environment, and processes are as safe and compliant as possible. Please ring us on 01925 649 818 or message us here.