PUWER, explained for forklift fleets.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 — the backbone of day-to-day forklift safety in the UK.
PUWER (the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) places duties on anyone who provides equipment for use at work. For a forklift fleet, that means the machines must be suitable, safe, maintained, and inspected — and that the people using them are trained and authorised.
What PUWER requires of a forklift operation
- Equipment is suitable for the task and the environment it's used in.
- It's maintained in an efficient state and good working order.
- It's inspected where safety depends on the installation or on conditions liable to deteriorate — in practice, a pre-use check each shift.
- Only trained, authorised operators use it.
- Adequate records demonstrate all of the above.
The pre-use (daily) check
A forklift should be checked before each shift or before first use that day. The HSE's HSG6 guidance covers the walk-around: tyres, forks, mast and chains, hydraulics, brakes, steering, lights, horn, warning devices, and — depending on fuel type — battery, LPG or diesel specifics. A defect that affects safety should take the truck out of service until it's put right.
Records are the difference between defence and liability
The check itself protects the operator; the record protects the business. If the HSE investigates, “we always do the checks” is worth nothing without evidence. A defensible record shows what was checked, when, by whom, and what happened to any defect found.
How Asset360 makes PUWER routine
Asset360 turns the pre-use check into a guided 60-second job on a phone. Each item is pass, advisory or fail — nothing can be skipped — and a safety-critical failure locks the truck out of use automatically. Every check is stored as a time-stamped, attributed record, and the whole history exports into an HSE-ready compliance pack.
Frequently asked questions
Does PUWER require a daily forklift check?
PUWER requires that work equipment is maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it stays safe. For forklifts, industry practice and HSE guidance is a pre-use (daily/pre-shift) check by the operator, backed by a documented record.
Who is responsible for PUWER compliance?
The employer — the duty holder who provides the equipment for use at work — is responsible for ensuring forklifts are safe, inspected and maintained, and that operators are trained and authorised.
What happens if you can't produce inspection records?
Being unable to demonstrate that inspections happened is treated as a failure to comply. After an incident, the HSE can prosecute; PUWER breaches carry unlimited fines and, in serious cases, custodial sentences.
How does Asset360 help with PUWER?
Every daily check in Asset360 is time-stamped, attributed to an authorised operator and stored as a permanent record. Failed safety-critical items lock the truck out automatically, and records export into an HSE-ready pack on demand.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Refer to current HSE guidance and your own risk assessments.