PUWER 1998 · County coverage

PUWER inspection and testing in County Durham

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

County Durham gave the world the railways, and that engineering still runs through its rail depots, manufacturing plants and former-coalfield works, on production machinery, machine tools and mobile plant. Wherever equipment is used at work, PUWER 1998 applies.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote
  • Independent & impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • County-wide coverage
What we cover

PUWER work equipment inspections across County Durham

Work equipment here spans the heavy and the everyday: lathes, mills and machining centres, presses and brakes, welding and cutting plant, conveyors and line equipment, woodworking machines, and the fork trucks and telehandlers that feed them. All of it is within scope.

On long-established sites the risk is rarely that a machine stops; it is that a guard is removed and never refitted, an interlock is bypassed to keep production moving, or an emergency stop quietly stops working. PUWER also requires an inspection before equipment is first used and again after it is moved or re-installed, which matters where lines are refurbished and machines relocated. We inspect the guarding, the controls and the stop systems against the actual hazard, independently of whoever maintains them, and record each item so a fault is found before it reaches an operator.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine, we do not sell or maintain the equipment
  • Competent engineer surveyors with real field experience
  • Clear reports issued promptly, with the next due date flagged
  • One item or a whole site, one town or the whole county
Towns we cover

PUWER inspections across County Durham

We provide PUWER inspections to businesses right across County Durham. Choose your town below for local detail, or call us and we will arrange a visit to suit your schedule.

PUWER inspections in DarlingtonView Darlington →
PUWER FAQs

PUWER inspection and testing: common questions

Do you carry out PUWER inspections across County Durham?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors cover County Durham, from the rail and manufacturing sites to the smaller engineering works across the former coalfield, and inspect every kind of work equipment. Call us and we will arrange a visit.
How soon can you get to a site in County Durham?
We cover County Durham from end to end, usually on site within a few working days and faster after a line is moved or re-installed. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.
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 County Durham?

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

0330 043 8191 Request a quote