PUWER 1998 · Cambridgeshire

PUWER inspection and testing in Cambridge

Inspection and testing of work equipment against the five PUWER duties by an independent competent person

Cambridge runs on equipment that is often one of a kind, the rigs, test benches and machine tools built in its laboratories and precision workshops with no standard manual behind them. Every one is work equipment under PUWER 1998, due inspection by a competent person.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote
  • Independent & impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly

Work equipment we inspect

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

  • Machines & production lines
  • Conveyors & material handling
  • Fork trucks & lift fleets
  • Presses, guarding & interlocks
  • Test rigs & one-off equipment
  • Mixers, pumps & process plant
Work equipment we inspect

PUWER inspection and testing for Cambridge businesses

Work equipment in a research and engineering setting runs from machine tools, lathes and pillar drills to mixers, ovens and vacuum rigs, extraction and fume plant, and the fork-lift trucks and bench machines around them. All of it is within scope.

Prototype and modified equipment is where a standard approach falls short, because a one-off rig has no maker's inspection schedule and a modification can defeat a guard that used to be adequate. PUWER is risk-based for exactly this, and the interval and scope are set by what the equipment actually does. It is also separate from maintenance: a calibration or service record is not an inspection record. We assess the guarding, the controls and the emergency stops on each item, including the ones built in-house, and record the result independently of whoever looks after them.

Production and machine tools
Guarding and interlocks
Power presses and brakes
Conveyors and automated lines
Woodworking machinery
Lathes, mills and CNC cells
Access and platform equipment
Workshop and processing plant
How it works

Booking your PUWER inspection in Cambridge

Send us a list of the equipment and where it sits, and we will plan an inspection that fits around live work, giving particular attention to anything built or modified on site. You receive an inspection record per item, any defect flagged and the next date set.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us about the work equipment on your site, and we will arrange an inspection that fits around production. One machine or a full line, we are happy to quote either way.

  • 2

    We inspect on site

    A lead inspector assesses each item against the way it is actually used and the risks it presents, working with minimal disruption to your day.

  • 3

    You get your record

    You receive a clear inspection record setting out condition, any remedial work and the next interval, so nothing is left to chance.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we inspect, we do not sell or maintain the equipment
  • Competent inspectors who judge equipment by how it is really used
  • Clear inspection records, with intervals set on risk not guesswork
  • From a single machine to a full line, one site or many
Areas we cover

PUWER inspection and testing across Cambridge and nearby

Our engineer surveyors cover Cambridge and the towns around it across Cambridgeshire. If your site is nearby, we can almost certainly reach you, so just ask.

CambridgeElySt IvesSt NeotsHuntingdonGodmanchesterSawstonSohamNewmarket
Other inspections in Cambridge

Related compliance for Cambridge businesses

Many sites need more than one statutory regime. If you use lifting gear, pressure systems, work equipment or extraction in Cambridge, we can examine all of it.

LOLER lifting equipment in CambridgeView this service PSSR pressure systems in CambridgeView this service COSHH LEV testing in CambridgeView this service
PUWER FAQs

PUWER inspection and testing: common questions

Do you carry out PUWER inspections in Cambridge?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors cover Cambridge and the surrounding science parks, institutes and engineering sites, and inspect every kind of work equipment, including one-off and modified rigs. Call us and we will arrange a visit to suit your work.
How quickly can you get to Cambridge?
We have engineer surveyors across Cambridgeshire, so we can usually reach a Cambridge site within a few working days, and sooner when a new or modified rig needs inspecting before use. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your work.
How often must work equipment be inspected under PUWER?
There is no single fixed interval. PUWER sets the frequency by the equipment, its risks and where it works, so hard-used or outdoor machinery is inspected more often, guided by the maker's advice and your risk assessment. The HSE explains this risk-based approach in its PUWER guidance.
Is PUWER a legal requirement?
Yes. Under PUWER 1998 whoever provides or controls work equipment must keep it suitable, maintained and inspected by a competent person, and that duty stays with the end user, including equipment that is hired in.
Does a PUWER inspection produce a certificate?
No. PUWER calls for a written record of inspection, not a certificate, naming each item, its condition, any defect and the date the next inspection is due. We keep that record clear and defensible, and it is what an HSE inspector asks to see.
Who can carry out a PUWER inspection?
A competent person with the knowledge and experience to know what to look at, what to look for and what to do about any defect. Simple low-risk items can be checked in-house by trained staff, while higher-risk machinery is better inspected by an independent competent person.
What does a PUWER inspection cover?
Whether the equipment is suitable and correctly installed, the condition of guards, interlocks, controls and stop devices, and any deterioration that has set in. Defects and the action needed are written down so nothing is lost between inspections.
How is PUWER different from LOLER?
LOLER covers lifting equipment and ends in a Report of Thorough Examination, while PUWER covers all work equipment and ends in an inspection record. They overlap on lifting machinery, so we sort each item to the right regime and inspect it once, correctly.

Need a PUWER inspection in Cambridge?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection in Cambridge.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote