Work Equipment Inspections Explained
What is a Work Equipment / PUWER Inspection?
A Work Equipment / PUWER inspection is a safety check carried out to ensure that any equipment used at work is safe, suitable, and properly maintained, and the concept applies in both the UK and Ireland even though the legislation differs. In the UK, these duties come from the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), while in Ireland they fall under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007, which implement the same EU directive on work equipment. In both countries, the inspection confirms that equipment is in good condition, correctly installed, fitted with appropriate guards and safety devices, used by competent operators, and maintained at intervals appropriate to the level of risk. The overall purpose is the same across both jurisdictions: to prevent accidents by ensuring work equipment remains safe throughout its life cycle.
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What Types of Work Equipment Do We Inspect?
At Carn Engineering, we carry out thorough inspections and testing of a wide range of work equipment to help businesses stay complaint. The types of workplace / PUWER inspections we provide include:
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General fixed machinery inspections — Such as drills, saws, presses, conveyors, compactors, and CNC equipment.
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Mobile work equipment inspections — Including forklifts, telehandlers, MEWPs, tractors, and site vehicles.
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Lifting equipment and accessories Inspections — Such as hoists, cranes, slings, chains, and lifting attachments.
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Pressure system inspections — Including compressors, air receivers, and hydraulic equipment.
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Work‑at‑height equipment — Such as ladders, podiums, scaffolding components, and access platforms.
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Production machinery inspections — — Including automated production lines, packaging machinery, cutting and forming machines.
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Safety equipment inspections — Including guards, emergency stops, and control systems fitted to machinery.
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Warehouse racking inspections — Including pallet racking, cantilever racking, shelving systems, and storage structures.
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Door testing — Including fire doors and security doors of both electric and manual types.
Experience the Carn Difference
Why Choose Carn Engineering For Your Work Equipment / PUWER Inspection?
✔ Comprehensive inspections — Covering all major workplace equipment types, from warehouse wracking and pallet trucks to doors and ladders.
✔ Fully compliant assessments — Aligned with PUWER in the UK and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in Ireland.
✔ Experienced, multi-disciplined engineers — We can take care of all of your engineering inspection needs saving you time, money and hassle.
✔ Flexible service options — Available for one‑off examinations or scheduled inspection programmes across multiple sites.
✔ Sector‑wide expertise — Supporting manufacturing, logistics, construction, automotive, healthcare, and more.
✔ On-line client portal — Access all of your past, and current reports along with your upcoming scheduled inspections.
We Travel Far & Wide
Where Do We Provide Work Equipment / PUWER Inspections?
We provide work equipment / PUWER examinations across all of Ireland and the UK. Our coverage includes major cities, rural areas, industrial hubs, and construction sites, ensuring every client—no matter their location—has access to reliable, accredited local work equipment / PUWER examinations.
Whether you operate a single site or manage multiple locations across regions, our team delivers consistent, high‑quality examinations to keep your pressure equipment fully compliant and your operations running safely.
Know Your Obligations
When Do You Need a Work Equipment / PUWER Inspection?
The frequency of inspection of work equipment may vary, depending on environmental conditions (E.g. equipment subject to harsh outdoor conditions is likely to need more frequent inspections than if used in an indoor environment). The frequency of inspection of work equipment should be determined through risk assessment, taking account of the manufacturer's recommendations, industry advice and your own experience. It may be appropriate to review the frequency of inspection in the light of your experience. Intervals between inspection of work equipment can be increased if the inspection history shows negligible deterioration, or shortened where experience shows this is necessary to prevent danger.
Both UK and ROI regulations state that where work equipment is of a type where the safe operation is critically dependent on it being properly installed (or reinstalled), and where failure to carry this out would lead to a significant risk to the operator, or other worker, you should arrange for a suitable work equipment / PUWER inspection to be carried out before it is put into service. This inspection report should state that it is a ‘Report of Inspection after Installation’ and the equipment has been ‘installed correctly’ and is ‘safe to operate’. The report should remain with the equipment for the life of the equipment or when it is moved. It should also be made readily available for the enforcing authority upon request.
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