Updated Code of Practice on Safe Use of Work Equipment launched

An updated  and revised PUWER Approved Code of Practice has been published. This update of the 1998 ACoP contains guidance for employers, duty-holders and anyone who has responsibility for the safe use of work equipment, such as managers and supervisors.

Setting out what is needed to comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (commonly known as PUWER), the guidance places duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over work equipment. PUWER also places responsibilities on businesses and organisations whose employees use work equipment, whether owned by them or not.

The changes between this and the previous edition are summarised below  include:

(a) the introduction of short summaries before regulations to help the reader and direct them to other relevant information;
(b) removal of much of the old introduction and background information;
(c) references to PUWER 98 have been replaced simply by PUWER;
(d) minor amendments to ACOP paragraphs, where necessary, to update information;
(e) guidance material has been simplified where possible and more use made of lists.

This document can be downloaded from the HSE website – https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l22.pdf