PUWER 1998 · Work equipment

Linisher Inspection and Testing

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

The linisher is the machine every workshop owns and no workshop inspects, an abrasive belt with a workrest gap that quietly grows past the 2 millimetres it must never exceed. We inspect and test linishers and belt grinders under PUWER and issue the written record of inspection.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
2 mm ruleThe gap between belt and workrest must not exceed 2 millimetres
Risk basedInspection at intervals set by a competent person under Reg 6
Written recordThe output is a record of inspection, not a certificate
Dust to bootLinishing creates dust that belongs under LEV, and we flag the interface
Work equipment we inspect

Why your linisher needs PUWER inspection

A linisher runs an abrasive belt between two or more pulleys, presenting a flat platen or a contact wheel to the work. Fabricators deburr and blend on them, foundries fettle castings, and toolrooms finish edges, usually on a machine bought years ago and treated since as furniture. PUWER disagrees with that treatment: the belt, the pulleys and above all the workrest gap are dangerous parts with inspection duties attached.

The number that governs the machine is 2 millimetres: the gap between the belt and the workrest, table or stop must not exceed it, or the work, and the fingers holding it, can be drawn into the gap. Belts also snatch, shed their joints and track off pulley edges, and the dust the process makes is a health hazard in its own right, which is where the linisher's PUWER inspection meets the extraction duties that sit under COSHH.

Belt linishers
Disc and belt combination machines
Backstand grinders
Contact wheel machines
Workrests and tables
Pulley and belt guards
Stop controls
Extraction take offs
How it works

How we inspect your linisher

Our engineer measures the workrest gap against the 2 millimetre rule, inspects rest security and adjustment, belt condition and joint, tracking and the exposure at pulley edges, pulley and rear of belt guarding, stop control reach with run down timed, mounting and stability of pedestal machines, and the extraction connection, then runs the machine to judge the belt at speed.

  • 1

    Measure the gap

    The workrest gap is measured, not glanced at, because the difference between 2 and 6 millimetres is the difference between a machine and a trap.

  • 2

    Judge the belt at speed

    Joints, tracking and edge exposure only show themselves running. The machine is inspected live as well as isolated.

  • 3

    Record and flag the dust

    The written record covers the mechanical findings, and where extraction is missing or disconnected we flag the LEV interface plainly.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • The forgotten machines inspected to the same standard as the flagship plant
  • Workrest gaps measured against the 2 millimetre rule on every machine
  • The dust and extraction interface flagged honestly, not ignored
  • Records and reminders through the SEIS client portal
What we check

Linisher: what a thorough inspection covers

Workrest gap

Rests wear, belts change thickness, and the gap creeps open. It is measured on every machine, and anything over 2 millimetres is a defect with a same day fix.

Belt joints

A failed joint at belt speed is a whip. Joint condition, direction arrows and belt cracking are inspected with the belt stationary and watched at speed.

Tracking and edge exposure

A belt tracking off the pulley presents a moving edge to fingers. Tracking adjustment and the guarding at pulley edges are both checked.

Rear of belt guarding

The return run behind the platen bites just as hard. Rear covers, their fixings and any home made openings are part of the inspection.

Stop and run down

The stop must be reachable with work in hand, and the run down short enough not to invite the next part in early. Both are tested and timed.

Pedestal stability

Floor machines loosen at the base and walk. Fixings, stands and vibration are checked, because a moving machine relocates its own hazards.

Intervals and your record

How often, and what you receive

Every linisher inspection produces a written record of inspection under PUWER: the measured workrest gap, the condition of belts, guards and stops, defects with timescales, the extraction interface where relevant, and the interval set by our competent person. The record, not a certificate, is what the regulations require, and it is filed in your SEIS client portal alongside the rest of the workshop the same day.

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

Linisher 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

Linisher inspection: common questions

Do linishers really need a statutory inspection?
Yes. A linisher is work equipment whose wear creates danger, squarely inside PUWER Regulation 6. Its size buys it no exemption; it buys it neglect, which is rather the problem.
What is the 2 millimetre rule?
The gap between the abrasive belt and the workrest, table or stop must not exceed 2 millimetres, or parts and fingers can be drawn in. It is the first measurement we take on every machine.
How often should a linisher be inspected?
At an interval a competent person sets from its use. A fettling shop machine running all day earns a shorter cycle than a toolroom unit used weekly, and the record states the choice.
What about the dust the linisher makes?
Linishing dust is a health hazard that belongs under COSHH and local exhaust ventilation, which has its own statutory testing regime. Our PUWER record flags a missing or disconnected extraction take off so the gap is visible.
What is the most common defect?
Workrest gaps far beyond 2 millimetres, usually from years of belt changes without readjustment. Second is rear of belt covers removed and never refitted.
Do we get a certificate for the machine?
No. PUWER requires a written record of inspection rather than a certificate, and the record carries the measurements, the defects and the interval.
Where do these requirements come from?
From PUWER 1998, Regulations 6 and 11, and the guarding guidance that supports them. HSE guidance on PUWER sets out the duties, and our PUWER regulations guide explains records, intervals and defects.
How do I book a linisher inspection?
Call 0330 043 8191 or use the contact form. Linishers are usually inspected within a workshop sweep, which is the economical way to have the small machines inspected properly.

Is your linisher 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