PUWER 1998 · Work equipment

Conveyor system inspection under PUWER

Independent inspection of your conveyor system as work equipment, against the PUWER duties, by a competent engineer surveyor.

Conveyors run quietly until a glove, a sleeve or a hand is drawn into a nip, and the HSE links roughly a third of all machinery injuries to them. PUWER puts the duty to guard those nip points, and to keep the pull-cords and stops alive, on the person running the line.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Risk basedInterval set by how the line is run, not a fixed date
Nip pointsIn-running nips are the main cause of conveyor injuries
A written recordA dated inspection record, not a certificate
Stops that workPull-cords and e-stops checked along the whole run
Work equipment we inspect

Why your conveyor system needs PUWER inspection

A conveyor is a moving line of belts, rollers and drives, and almost every hazard on it sits at a trapping point: the in-running nip where the belt meets a drum or roller, the return idlers underneath, the drive chains and sprockets, and the join in the belt itself. Add the abrasion of a moving belt against skin and you have the picture PUWER is written for.

Under Regulation 6 the inspection is risk-based rather than fixed. We look first at whether the guarding actually makes those nips impossible to reach, then at the pull-cord lanyards and emergency stops that have to bring the belt to a halt from anywhere along it, and finally at the belt itself, its tracking and the controls that should stop an unexpected restart.

Head and tail drums
In-running nip guards
Return idler guards
Drive and gearbox guarding
Pull-cord lanyards
Emergency stops
Belt tracking and condition
Isolation and anti-restart
How it works

How we inspect your conveyor system

A competent engineer surveyor follows the belt from tail to head: the fixed nip and finger guards at every drum and roller, the pull-wire that should trip the line when it is pulled, slackened or broken, the emergency stops spaced along the run, and the isolation that cannot be overridden from another point. Belt tracking and the join are checked along the way.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us the conveyors you run, what they carry and where people work along them.

  • 2

    On-site inspection

    A competent engineer surveyor inspects each section, its guarding, pull-cords, stops and tracking, in the way it runs.

  • 3

    Your record

    You receive a clear, dated inspection record, anything that needs attention flagged and the next date to plan around.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we inspect the conveyor, we do not sell or service it
  • Competent engineer surveyors used to belt and roller conveyors
  • Inspection of the line as it actually runs, not a generic checklist
  • Clear records issued promptly, with the next due date flagged
What we check

Conveyor system: what a thorough inspection covers

In-running nip guards

The fixed guards at head and tail drums, checked so reach to the nip is truly impossible, the guard does not impede the line and it creates no new manual-handling risk.

Return idler and roller guards

The nips underneath the belt at the return idlers, often forgotten because they are out of sight, where a hand cleaning the belt can be drawn in.

Pull-cord lanyards

The trip wires along or above the belt, checked so the line stops when the wire is pulled in any direction, slackens or is broken, not only when a button is reached.

Emergency stops and spacing

Stop devices placed so one is always within reach, with goal-post pull-wires before a high-risk zone such as a baler or shredder.

Drive and transmission guarding

The belt and chain drives at the head pulley and gearbox, a common maintenance reach and a serious entanglement point.

Belt, tracking and isolation

Belt condition and join, alignment and tracking switches, and an isolation point that cannot be overridden and started from elsewhere.

Intervals and your record

How often, and what you receive

PUWER sets no fixed interval for a conveyor. Under Regulation 6 the frequency follows the risk: after installation where safe use depends on how it was fitted, at suitable intervals because the belt, guards and stops are exposed to wear, and again after any event that could have affected it, such as a guard removed for maintenance and not replaced. Most operators settle on a regular cycle, often annual, with more frequent checks on heavily used or high-risk lines.

No fixed intervalFrequency set by risk and how the equipment is used
After assemblyRe-inspected where safe use depends on correct assembly or relocation
A written recordA dated inspection record, not a statutory certificate
Where it liftsAny powered lifting function is examined under LOLER

Anyone selling a PUWER certificate is using a marketing word, not a legal one. We issue a clear, dated inspection record you can hand to an HSE inspector or your insurer.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full PUWER inspection service

Conveyor system is one of the many kinds of equipment we cover. We inspect the full range, across every sector, as an independent provider, one item or a whole site, anywhere in the UK.

See our full PUWER inspection service
Other services

Other statutory inspections we carry out

Many sites run more than one regime. We can examine all of it, under one independent provider.

LOLER inspectionThorough examination and certification of lifting equipment and accessories. PSSR examinationWritten Schemes and certified examination of pressure systems. LEV testingLEV thorough examination and test of your extraction systems.
PUWER FAQs

Conveyor system inspection: common questions

Does a conveyor need a PUWER inspection?
Yes. A conveyor is work equipment, so PUWER applies. It must be suitable, kept in good condition and inspected where it is exposed to wear, and its dangerous parts and nip points must be guarded. The duty is set out in the HSE guidance on PUWER.
Is it a PUWER certificate or a record?
A record. PUWER produces a written inspection record, not a statutory certificate, kept at least until the next inspection. There is no such thing as a PUWER certificate. We issue a clear, dated record you can hand to an HSE inspector or your insurer, and our guide to PUWER explains the difference.
How often should a conveyor be inspected?
There is no fixed interval. The frequency follows the risk and how the line is run: heavy, continuous or high-risk use pulls the date in, while light use lets it out. Most operators settle on a regular cycle, often annual, with extra checks after maintenance that disturbs the guarding.
What are the main hazards on a conveyor?
In-running nip points, where the belt meets a drum, roller or idler, are the main cause of injury, along with entanglement in drives and abrasion from the moving belt. Most of our inspection is about keeping people out of those nips and making sure the line can be stopped fast.
What does the inspection cover?
The fixed nip and finger guards at the drums and idlers, the drive and gearbox guarding, the pull-cord lanyards and emergency stops along the run, the belt condition and tracking, and the isolation that should not be overridable from another point.
Who is competent to inspect a conveyor?
PUWER requires a competent person, someone with the knowledge and experience to know what to look at, what to look for and what to do about anything found. Our engineer surveyors inspect belt and roller conveyors regularly.
Do you check the pull-cord emergency stops?
Yes. We test that the pull-wire trips the line when it is pulled in any direction, when it slackens and when it is broken, and that emergency stops are spaced so one is always within reach. A pull-cord that only works when taut is a defect.
Do you inspect conveyors across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to warehouses, factories and recycling plants nationwide, one conveyor or a whole system. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your operation.

Is your conveyor system due a PUWER inspection?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in the UK.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote