This intensive 3-day, City & Guilds accredited programme delivers a comprehensive and highly practical exploration of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and their application to machinery and work equipment.

Delegates examine the full legal framework, including the PUWER Regulations, the Approved Code of Practice (L22), and the supporting role of European and International standards, to build a deep and operational understanding of what robust compliance looks like in practice.

The course blends structured teaching and facilitated discussion with worked examples and hands-on PUWER inspection exercises using ST&L’s proven checklists and documentation.

Key learning content

Across the three days, delegates learn when PUWER inspections are required, what they must include and how to identify and assess the typical hazards associated with machinery and work equipment.

The programme introduces and applies the key European and International standards governing guarding, minimum access distances, crushing and shearing hazards, interlocking devices, emergency stops, electrical safety and two-hand controls, linking each requirement to PUWER and the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

Risk assessment is a core theme throughout.

Delegates are guided in the use of Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), the hierarchy of control and structured risk-evaluation techniques, supported by classroom scenarios and real-world case studies.

Practical inspection activities run alongside the theoretical learning, culminating in a tutor-assessed machine-based hazard-identification test and written theory assessments.

Who is this course for?

This advanced programme is designed for individuals responsible for machinery safety, legal compliance and the effective management of work equipment, including:

• Health & Safety Managers, Advisors and Practitioners
• Engineering Managers, Engineering Supervisors and Maintenance Managers
• Design Engineers, Project Engineers and Commissioning Engineers
• Production, Manufacturing and Operations Managers and Supervisors
• Lead Technicians, Senior Maintenance Engineers and Team Leaders
• Facilities Managers and those involved in specifying, procuring or modifying machinery
• Members of capital-projects, design, installation or upgrade teams with PUWER responsibilities

Delivery format

The course is delivered across three consecutive days by seasoned machinery-safety practitioners and professionally qualified trainers.

The learning experience is intentionally immersive, combining visual aids, group discussion, real-world examples and structured, hands-on activities to embed understanding.

Delegates undertake both practical and theoretical assessments, including a multiple-choice exam, applied risk-assessment scenarios and a machinery-based hazard-identification exercise.

Those who successfully meet the required standard are awarded a City & Guilds accredited certificate, demonstrating their competency and commitment to best-practice compliance.

Organisations may choose to book individual delegates onto a public programme or arrange a dedicated in-house course tailored to their machinery, projects and operational requirements.

Pricing options

• Public programme at ST&L’s venue: £1,250 per delegate (ex VAT), including lunch, snacks and hot drinks.
• In-house at your UK venue: £1,400 per delegate (ex VAT), minimum of 5 delegates.

The aims of this 3-day Advanced PUWER Programme are to:

• Equip delegates with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to plan, conduct and document PUWER safety inspections for a wide range of machinery and work equipment.
• Build a comprehensive understanding of the PUWER legal framework, including its relationship with the Health & Safety at Work Act and the guidance set out in the PUWER Approved Code of Practice (L22).
• Strengthen delegates’ ability to interpret and apply relevant European and International standards to demonstrate compliance with PUWER and, where appropriate, the Machinery Directive.
• Develop practical competence in hazard identification, risk estimation, risk evaluation and risk reduction using recognised methodologies such as Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA).
• Ensure participants can confidently use ST&L’s PUWER Hazard Identification Checklist and associated documentation to deliver consistent, structured and evidence-based inspections.

By the end of the course, delegates will be able to:

• Clearly explain the purpose, scope and core requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and articulate how they integrate with wider legal duties under the Health & Safety at Work Act.
• Summarise the duties within PUWER Regulations 1–24 and utilise the guidance in the Approved Code of Practice (L22) to interpret requirements and support compliant decision-making.
• Identify and evaluate common hazards associated with machinery and work equipment, recognising how these risks are managed through appropriate engineering, organisational and procedural controls.
• Interpret and apply key European and International standards relating to guarding, minimum access distances, interlocking, emergency-stop systems, electrical safety and other protective measures relevant to PUWER compliance.
• Determine when PUWER inspections are required, define the essential elements they should cover, and document findings clearly and accurately to demonstrate due diligence.
• Apply Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) and related risk-assessment techniques to estimate, evaluate and reduce risk in line with the hierarchy of control and accepted best practice.
• Competently use the ST&L PUWER Hazard Identification Checklist and associated risk-assessment documentation to carry out structured, evidence-based inspections on machinery.
• Successfully complete the theory and practical assessments necessary to achieve City & Guilds accreditation.