Introduction to PUWER regulations

The PUWER regulations were developed to ensure that any equipment, plant and machinery in the workplace environment are safe, and pose no significant, risk to the health & safety of employees, employers.

PUWER regulations place responsibilities on people, companies and organisations who own, operate, or control plant and equipment in the work environment.

Legal duties

• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW)
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
• Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.

Work Equipment

Work equipment can cover almost any equipment a worker uses, including circular saws and drilling machines, hand tools such as screwdrivers and knives, lifting equipment like lifting slings, and other equipment such as ladders and water pressure cleaners. Office equipment is also included in the definition.

The safe operation of plant and machinery requires competence, a combination of training, skills, and experience.

Recommendations for employers

Ensure:

• All work equipment is suitable for the task. Consider job, location, conditions of use, etc.
• Clear instructions are available, preferably in writing.
• Work equipment is maintained in efficient working order and good repair by competent staff or contractors.
• Work equipment is stable and adequately lit.
• Equipment can be isolated from its power source.
• Effective liaison with other owners of equipment.
• Records of maintenance are kept.
• Mobile equipment is provided with roll-over protection, as required.

Provide:

• Information, instruction, and training for employees and managers on the safe use and maintenance of equipment and who is authorised to use it.
• A planned preventative maintenance programme.
• Suitable guarding to prevent access to dangerous parts or to stop hazardous parts before a person can reach them.
• Relevant markings and warnings.
• Safe systems of work and isolation procedures, particularly for maintenance activities.
• Visible and identifiable control devices that are safe and easily accessible.
• A written agreement or internal procedures for the maintenance of hired equipment.

Guidelines to employers

Ensure that the work equipment you provide meets the requirements of (PUWER) and is:

• Suitable for use and for the purpose and conditions it uses.
• Maintained in a safe condition.
• Inspected regularly by a competent person and records are kept.
• CE or UKCA marked by the supplier.

Eliminate risks where possible using risk assessment and method statements or, if not possible, control them by:

• Taking appropriate ‘hardware’ measures, e.g. providing suitable guards, protection devices, markings and warning devices, system control devices (such as emergency stop buttons) and personal protective equipment.
• Taking appropriate ‘software’ measures such as following safe systems of work (e.g. ensuring maintenance is only performed when equipment is shut down, etc.) and providing adequate information, instruction and training.

Train, instruct and inform for each piece of equipment.

Where mobile work equipment is used for carrying people, check it is suitable for this purpose. Measures should be taken to reduce operation risks (e.g., rolling over)

Case law

A maintenance engineer slipped and caught his hand in machinery whilst attempting to steady himself. He put his hand on the rack and pinion gearing of a machine, and the pinion rolled over it. His right index finger had to be amputated. The company was fined £40,000 plus £13,000 costs for contravening PUWER relating to the dangerous parts of machinery and Regulation 3(1)(a) of MHSW for not having adequate risk assessments in place.

Manufacturing company Hanson Packed Products Ltd was prosecuted after a 26-year-old worker was fatally crushed when his arm was caught in a powered roller. There should have been fixed guards around the roller, but they were missing. The company was fined £750,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,511.

Small business health and safety

Small business health and safety is essential to keep your people safe and is required by law, but it comes at a price of time and money.

A simple approach that allows you to get on with your job of running the business is to let a third party worry about all health and safety requirements within your company. We offer a competent safety advisor service that is very economical, but before we go into the details, let’s look at the essential health and safety requirements.

Small business health and safety checklist

There are some fundamental requirements that you must have in place by law.

1. Health and safety policy (over 5 employees)
2. Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
3. Employee health and safety training with documented proof of delivery

Health and safety audit checklist

A quick health and safety audit will tell you if you have everything for an HSE inspection. A health and safety audit will check all your essential documents and then look at your arrangements to ensure the following areas are all covered.

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
2. Tools and Machinery
3. Electrical
4. Fire
5. Heavy Loading/Unloading
6. Chemical/Hazardous Substance Storage
7. Working from Height

Health and safety legislation

As a director, it is essential to know and understand your responsibilities regarding health and safety. Below are the main health and safety legislation, laws, and requirements.

The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974

If a health and safety offence is committed and the cause is the neglect of a director, the person and the organisation can be prosecuted.

Directors can appoint an independent third party to carry out their health and safety duties. The third-party must be fully qualified and competent to carry out the tasks. Delegating does not absolve the responsibility of a director; for example, if the safety advisor required employees to be trained and the director refused and an accident happened, then the director will held to account.

Read the health and safety at work act 1974 To ensure you understand your full health and safety executive responsibilities

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

All work activities are to manage risk. Once the risk or risks have been identified, the organisation must make arrangements to reduce or mitigate the risks.

This work takes the form of RAMS (Risk and Method Statements). The risk assessment identifies risks and examines ways to reduce them.

The method statement describes how the work is to be carried out and ensures that all PPE and other means to reduce the safety risk are included.

Please visit our risk and method statement shop. We have over 150 RAMS, some of which include 18 pages and 9,000 words, that you can buy very reasonably. The documents are in Word format, so you can adjust them to suit your project.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

Corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide are when an employee is killed at work, and the HSE find the responsibility for the death is due to failure to carry out the work by all H&S laws.

It is very difficult to defend a death at work. The courts tend to side with the employee rather than the employer.

Learn more about the corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide act 2007

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/+/http:/www.justice.gov.uk/docs/manslaughterhomicideact07.pdf

Failing to fulfil director health and safety responsibilities

When a director breaches health and safety legislation and causes harm, the sentences can lead to prison and unlimited fines. Over the past few years, post-COVID, many companies have gone into administration or liquidation due to directors failing to carry out their lawful duties. The HSE is increasingly looking at individuals rather than just the company.

Competent safety advisor

One way to help yourself is to have your own health and safety advisor. You can delegate all health and safety responsibilities to this third-party person. Your safety advisor will educate you on what you need to do to keep your business safe.

If an accident does occur on-site, and the company has all health and safety requirements up to date, the safety advisor will deal with HSE for you.

A safety advisor can save you time and money for a basic monthly fee.

Request a chat and find out more about our safety advisor service

Directors health and safety responsibilities

Health and safety executive responsibilities are very important to understand as soon as you become a director

As a company director, you are responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of your employees and yourself.

Your company health and safety policy will detail your responsibilities.

As a director, your first job should be to review your company’s health and safety policy document and ensure you are happy with it.

If your company does not have one, don’t worry; we have pre-written health and safety policy documents you can buy, or we can write a bespoke one for you.

Legislation that covers the responsibilities of a director

The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974

If a health and safety offence is committed and the cause is the neglect of a director, the person and the organisation can be prosecuted.

Directors can appoint an independent third party to carry out their health and safety duties. The third-party must be fully qualified and competent to carry out the tasks. Delegating does not absolve the responsibility of a director; for example, if the safety advisor required employees to be trained and the director refused and an accident happened, then the director will held to account.

Read the health and safety at work act 1974 To ensure you understand your full health and safety executive responsibilities

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

All work activities are to manage risk. Once the risk or risks have been identified, the organisation must make arrangements to reduce or mitigate the risks.

This work takes the form of RAMS (Risk and Method Statements). The risk assessment identifies risks and examines ways to reduce them.

The method statement describes how the work is to be carried out and ensures that all PPE and other means to reduce the safety risk are included.

Please visit our risk and method statement shop. We have over 150 RAMS, some of which include 18 pages and 9,000 words, that you can buy very reasonably. The documents are in Word format, so you can adjust them to suit your project.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

Corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide are when an employee is killed at work, and the HSE find the responsibility for the death is due to failure to carry out the work by all H&S laws.

It is very difficult to defend a death at work. The courts tend to side with the employee rather than the employer.

Learn more about the corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide act 2007

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/+/http:/www.justice.gov.uk/docs/manslaughterhomicideact07.pdf

Failing to fulfil director health and safety responsibilities

When a director breaches health and safety legislation and causes harm, the sentences can lead to prison and unlimited fines. Over the past few years, post-COVID, many companies have gone into administration or liquidation due to directors failing to carry out their lawful duties. The HSE is increasingly looking at individuals rather than just the company.

Competent safety advisor

One way to help yourself is to have your own health and safety advisor. You can delegate all health and safety responsibilities to this third-party person. Your safety advisor will educate you on what you need to do to keep your business safe.

If an accident does occur on-site, and the company has all health and safety requirements up to date, the safety advisor will deal with HSE for you.

A safety advisor can save you time and money for a basic monthly fee.

Request a chat and find out more about our safety advisor service

Health and safety in construction

In the fast-paced world of construction, safety is of paramount importance. From home extensions to infrastructure projects that shape our country, the welfare of workers and the public is our first consideration.

When it comes to creating a culture of safety, construction companies must have robust processes and systems in place.

• Health and safety legislation
• Common hazards in the construction industry
• Implementing health and safety on construction sites
• Safety planning and risk assessment in construction projects
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) in construction
• Training and education for construction safety
• Construction site inspections and audits
• Creating a culture of safety on construction sites
• Site Manager Compliance Kit
• SSIP Accreditation
• HSG150 health and safety in construction

Health and safety legislation

Health and safety legislation in the workplace is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974This legislation sets out the duties of employers, employees, and others. 

Responsibilities of employers

• Assess risks: Identify risks to employees, customers, and others 
• Create a policy: Have a written health and safety policy if they employ five or more people 
• Provide training: Ensure staff are adequately trained 
• Provide welfare: Ensure adequate welfare provisions are available 
• Provide information: Ensure employees have access to relevant information, instruction, and supervision 
• Consult employees: Consult employees about risks and preventive measures 

Responsibilities of employees 

• Have a duty of care to themselves and others

Other construction-related health and safety legislation

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002
• Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998
• Work at Height Regulations 2005

Common hazards in the construction industry

The construction industry is fraught with hazards that can lead to serious accidents if not properly managed.

• There were 51 fatal injuries to workers in 2023/24
• 47,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries at work averaged over the three years 2021/22-2023/24

One of the most prevalent risks is falls, which can occur from heights such as scaffolding, ladders, or roofs.

Another common hazard is the risk of being struck by objects. This can happen when tools or materials are improperly secured or when heavy machinery is involved.

Construction site workers are often close to moving equipment, and the potential for accidents increases.

Exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos and silica dust, poses a significant risk.

Implementing health and safety on construction sites

Implementing health and safety processes and systems on construction sites is essential. Many clients now insist that contractors hold a minimum health and safety standard. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) implemented the standard. SSIP is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments. CHAS and PQS are suppliers of the standard.

Below is a health and safety checklist for a typical site construction setup

• Company health and safety policy
• Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan (CDM 2015), which can be easily amended and edited for specific projects
• Site setup check sheet
• Site Rules
• Site Induction
• Site Registers – PPE, Plant & Equipment etc
• Permits to Work – Confined Space, Excavation, Hot Work, Asbestos, etc
• Site inspection Check Sheets – Scaffold, Dumper, Excavator etc
• Risk assessments and method statements
• COSHH data sheets
• Toolbox training
• Worker training records

Safety planning and risk assessment in construction projects

Planning work operations is a key factor in keeping people safe on-site. The process is to develop a method statement of how the work will be executed and then develop a risk assessment. The risk assessment analyses the risks and looks at ways to mitigate them. The project planner may adjust the method statements if the risk assessment finds that the risk is too high.

Ready for use Risk assessment and method statements templates.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) in construction

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defence to keep people safe. PPE can include the following:

• Hard hat
• His visibility vests and trousers
• Ear protection
• Eye protection
• Lung protection
• Hand protection
• Skin protection
• Foot protection

The site manager must ensure that their workers are provided with the necessary equipment and trained on how to use it effectively. A PPE register is vital to control who had what and when.

Site training

Training and education are fundamental for a safe construction site. On-site training includes:

• Site induction
• Toolbox talks
• Health and safety essential training
  • Site safety awareness training
  • Fire awareness training
  • Manual handling training
  • Abrasive wheel training
  • Working at height training
  • Risk assessment training

On-site e-learning to train site workers saves time and cost.

A training register is vital to control who had what and when.

Construction site inspections and audits

Regular inspections and audits of construction sites are critical for ensuring ongoing health and safety compliance.

Inspections help identify potential hazards that may have arisen since the last inspection and ensure that safety measures are effectively implemented.

Inspections can be conducted by internal safety officers or external auditors, providing an objective perspective on the effectiveness of the site’s safety practices.

Creating a culture of safety on construction sites

Creating a safety culture begins with a commitment from leadership to prioritise health and safety measures at all levels of the organisation.

By communicating that health and safety are priorities in the company culture, workers will feel empowered to work safely and promote safety with their workmates.

Site Manager Compliance Kit

Overview

The Site Manager Compliance Kit is an essential tool for every contractor. The Compliance Kit contains all of the information and documentation needed to comply with the requirements of today’s Safety Regulations.

Includes

• Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan (CDM 2015), which can be easily amended and edited for specific projects
• 70 Toolbox Talk Documents
• 65 Completed Risk Assessments
• 41 COSHH Assessments
• Site inspection Check Sheets – Scaffold, Dumper, Excavator etc
• Permits to Work – Confined Space, Excavation, Hot Work, Asbestos, etc
• Site set-up check sheet
• Site Induction
• Site Rules
• Site Registers – PPE, Plant & Equipment etc

Review the Site Manager Compliance Kit

CHAS Accreditation

If you want to implement CHAS, we can help you achieve this goal.

The CHAS assessment standards and requirements are listed below.

• Policy
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement Actions
• Accident Reporting and Investigation
• Fleet Operations / Management Scheme
• Competent Advice – Corporate and Construction
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Training and Information
• Qualifications and Experience
• Monitoring, Audit and Review
• Risk Assessment and Safe System of Work
• Workforce Involvement
• Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractors and Sub-consultants
• Responsible Person
• Contractor
• Declaration

Review CHAS accreditation

HSG150 health and safety in construction

HSG150 Health and Safety in Construction explains the essential tasks for achieving healthy and safe construction sites.

It helps the reader to identify hazards and control risks and explains how to plan, organise, control, monitor and review health and safety throughout the life of a project.

It is aimed at everybody involved in construction work, including clients, designers, contractors and individual workers. Clients, designers and others who specify construction work may also find the book useful.

Download HSG150

Introduction

Our fully approved, health and safety online training courses are perfect for gaining qualifications for you and your employees. We can deliver all the training you need for an SSIP assessment and all essential health and safety awareness.

Our engaging courses can be taken at any time, in any place and on any device. All courses are approved and priced to offer the best possible value to your business.

FREE Trial

You can sign up here for a free trial of our health and safety online training courses.

A trial account gives you free access to the first module of all our available courses.

Any progress you make will be saved, so if you decide to buy, you can continue from where you left off.

So complete the form on this page to get instant access, and let’s get started.

Start your FREE trial

Available health and safety online training courses

You can also select a course you are interested in and click on the FREE trial button on the course. Select any courses from the list below:

The courses available are:

• First Aid Training
• Asbestos Training
• Legionella Training
• Abrasive Wheels Training
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Training
• Display Screen Equipment Training
• Fire Safety Training
• Food Safety Training
• Level 1 Health & Safety in a Construction Environment
• Manual Handling Training
• Working at Height Training
• Working Safely Training
• Working in Confined Spaces
• CDM Awareness
• Introduction to Personal Safety for Lone Workers
• Behavioural Safety
• Introduction to Risk Assessment
• Electrical Safety
• Noise Awareness
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Workplace Health and Safety
• Safeguarding Training
• Positive Handling in Schools
• Prevent Duty

Need support

Once you have seen what we offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we will be happy to set you up with your health and safety online training solution.

If you get stuck or need some help feel free to get in touch.

PQS accreditation

Find out what PQS accreditation is and how it can save you money and streamline health and safety assessments.

A PQS accreditation is an approved SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) accreditation.

SSIP is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments.

SSIP does not carry out the assessments; 30 companies, including PQS, do that.

Why PQS

PQS has designed the most efficient and affordable SSIP accreditation certification process.

PQS was set up to be the most affordable and straightforward SSIP member scheme in the UK market while retaining great value and simple processes.

The deem to satisfy scheme developed by SSIP means a PQS certificate is equal to all other suppliers, for example, CHAS, Constructionline, and Safe Contractor.

While SSIP schemes save money on processes and simplify health and safety procurement for suppliers, they are priced quite differently in the UK market.

SSIP approval is recognised UK-wide, and its purpose is to save contractors time tendering for work.

PQS is approved for all SSIP Categories and/or CDM Duty holders across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

For organisations in the United Kingdom, we can provide all the following categories:

– SSIP Approved
– SSIP Approved: Contractor
– SSIP Approved: Principal Contractor
– SSIP Approved: Designer
– SSIP Approved: Principal Designer
– SSIP Approved: IE Contractor
– SSIP Approved: IE Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS)
– SSIP Approved: IE Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP)
– SSIP Approved: IE Designer

PQS assessment criteria

The PQS assessment criteria are the same as those of all SSIP suppliers. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella organisation formed in 2009 to reduce the duplication of health and safety assessments.

The PQS assessment standards and requirements are listed below.

• Policy
• Arrangements
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement Actions
• Accident Reporting and Investigation
• Fleet Operations / Management Scheme
• Competent Advice – Corporate and Construction
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Training and Information
• Individual Qualifications and Experience
• Monitoring, Audit and Review
• Risk Assessment Leading to a Safe System of Work
• Workforce Involvement
• Co-operation and Co-ordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractors and Sub-consultants
• Contractor
• Principal Contractor
• Designer

Save up to £500 with your SSIP assessment renewal.

Don’t miss the deadline for your SSIP assessment renewal. Ensure your business stays compliant.

The problem

CHAS and other SSIP providers raise their assessment fees annually, increasing costs. An American corporation owns CHAS, and their fees have been raised yearly. They are now very high compared to other SSIP accreditation suppliers.

We have a solution

There are over thirty SSIP accreditation suppliers who all do the same thing, to the same standard. The standard is controlled by SSIP, which was created to develop a fair playing field and reduce costs.

CHAS is the most popular and well-known; however, the suppliers below are also prominent and are much more economical than CHAS.

Our preferred SSIP assessment renewal supplier is PQS; they have the lowest fees and are great to deal with. They have a good customer service team and have created easy-to-use systems to complete the accreditation documentation.

Our preferred SSIP supplier list.

• CHAS
• PQS
• Construction line
• Safe Contractor
• SMAS
• CQMA
• Builders profile
• Avetta

What will an SSIP accreditation cover?

All assessments are completed using the SSIP Core Criteria as the threshold standard and cover the following:

• Health & Safety policy
• Competent Advice
• Training arrangements
• Monitoring, audit and review
• Workforce involvement
• Accident reporting and enforcement action
• Subcontracting/consulting
• Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
• Cooperations with others
• Welfare provision
• Hazard elimination

The assessment completed will be proportionate and relevant to the type of work you undertake and the size of your business, noting the size of your business will include any labour staff working for you.

About PQS accreditation

The PQS is an accreditation supplier and SSIP member. PQS charge a much lower fee than CHAS, saving you up to £500 depending on your type of accreditation.

There is no difference between CHAS and PQS; they are SSIP members and work according to the same rules and guidance.

If you are worried that your customers are asking for CHAS, it’s OK, as SSIP allow you to obtain a CHAS certificate even when PQS has accredited you through their deem to satisfy process.

If your SSIP accreditation is coming up for renewal, contact us, and we can advise you on the best solution for your business and budget.

Complete the form below, and we will contact you and provide you with some support.

Do I need to be a CHAS accredited contractor?

If you are self-employed or a small contractor do you need to be a CHAS accredited contractor. You may be asked to get CHAS or other SSIP certificate. Let us explain the situation to you.

Domestic Market

If you work in the domestic market and want to sail close to the wind, the answer is no, as homeowners will not insist that you work safely.

However, you have a duty of care for yourself and others under UK health and safety legislation. Even working in the domestic market, you will be in trouble if you have a terrible accident or cause harm to others.

Construction Market

The answer is yes if you work in the construction market or want to work there. You will need to have a recognised standard of health and safety.

Main contractors and clients such as local authorities insist that everyone who works for them has a standard of health and safety. They insist as it is part of their health and safety systems.

The most well-known standard is CHAS, but there are other providers of the same standard under the SSIP umbrella. SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is a organisation that manages accreditation suppliers, to ensure they work to the same standards.

The size of your business matters

If you are self-employed or a small contractor with less than 5 employees, you need CHAS or similar, SSIP but you will not be required to employ a competent person safety advisor.

You must employ a competent person safety advisor if you employ 5 or more people, including sub-contractors or other self-employed people. The easiest way to do this is to use a remote competent person safety advisor. We offer this service.

What is CHAS

The Core Criteria and the threshold standard of CHAS and all the other SSIP accreditations  is as follows:

• Health & safety policy
• Competent Advice
• Training arrangements
• Monitoring, audit and review
• Workforce involvement
• Accident reporting and enforcement action
• Subcontracting/consulting
• Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
• Cooperations with others
• Welfare provision
• Hazard elimination

The Good News

We are here to support you through the process; we can prepare all the documents, complete the registration forms, and simplify the process. CHAS is expensive, but other providers are very economical. The best thing to do is chat with us and learn more; we can tell you about the costs and the time frame. Our number is 0800 031 5404, or you can complete the form below.