PUWER Compliance for Arborist Equipment — What UK Tree Surgeons Must Know in 2026

PUWER — The Regulation Every Arborist Must Understand

In short: if you employ anyone, or your work could put others at risk (tree work usually can), PUWER covers all your work equipment in Great Britain. It must be suitable, kept in good repair, inspected by a competent person at intervals set by risk assessment, with the result recorded, and used only by trained people: HSE expects a certificate of competence for chainsaw work on or in a tree. Climbing kit also needs a LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months, or under a written examination scheme.

If you run a tree surgery business and employ any staff, PUWER applies to you. If you're self-employed, it applies where your work could put other people at risk, which tree work usually can (see the FAQ). The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) is the primary piece of legislation governing how work equipment is selected, maintained, inspected, and operated in workplaces in Great Britain.

Many arborists know PUWER from chainsaw maintenance and paperwork. In practice, PUWER covers your entire plant and equipment inventory — from chainsaws and wood chippers to stump grinders, tracked loaders, and even ladders.

Non-compliance is not a theoretical risk. HSE inspectors can serve an improvement notice, which gives you a deadline to put things right (HSWA 1974 s.21), or a prohibition notice, which can stop an activity immediately (s.22).

This guide explains what PUWER requires in plain terms, which arborist equipment is affected, and what you need to do in practice.

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What PUWER Covers

PUWER applies to any equipment used at work — whether owned, hired, or borrowed. The regulations require that work equipment is:

1. Suitable for its intended use and the conditions of use (Reg. 4)
2. Maintained in efficient working order and good repair (Reg. 5)
3. Inspected at appropriate intervals and after exceptional events (Reg. 6)
4. Used only by people with adequate training and information (Reg. 8–9)
5. Fitted with appropriate controls — emergency stop, isolation, clearly marked controls (Reg. 14–24)
6. Restricted to the people given the task of using it, where its use involves a specific risk (Reg. 7)

For arborists, equipment that commonly falls under PUWER includes:

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The Four Core PUWER Duties in Practice

1. Suitability (Regulation 4)

Equipment must be appropriate for the job and the working environment. This means:

• A chainsaw must have an appropriate bar length and power rating for the work being done
• PPE comes under a separate law, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. HSE lists the chainsaw PPE standards on its chainsaw PPE page.
• Hired or second-hand equipment must be assessed for suitability before use — buying a used chipper off a classifieds site doesn't transfer the seller's compliance history to you

Practical implication for buying used equipment: When you buy a machine on TreeBay or any other marketplace, PUWER compliance begins the moment you put it to work. You must satisfy yourself that the machine is in suitable condition for its intended use before your employees operate it. A pre-purchase inspection (see our chainsaw buying guide and chipper buying guide for inspection checklists) is the practical way to check a machine is suitable before you put it to work, as PUWER reg 4 requires.

2. Maintenance (Regulation 5)

Equipment must be maintained in efficient working order and good repair throughout its working life. This means:

• Following manufacturer maintenance schedules (manufacturer service intervals are the baseline, not the ceiling)
• Keeping maintenance records (date, work done, parts replaced, person who did the work). This is recommended rather than required: PUWER reg 5(2) only says that where a machine has a maintenance log, the log must be kept up to date
• Removing from service any equipment that develops a defect until repaired
• For high-use equipment (a chipper running 5 days a week), make the daily pre-use check a set routine with a short checklist. The law doesn't require a record of simple pre-use checks, but a checklist makes sure they happen.

What "good repair" means for enforcement purposes: If an HSE inspector visits following an accident and you have no record of maintenance for the machine involved, it will be hard to show it was kept in good repair (PUWER reg 5).

A daily inspection checklist bolted to the machine (or in a digital logbook) is the simplest practical route. See our Wood Chipper Maintenance Schedule for a ready-to-use chipper example that you can adapt for other equipment.

3. Inspection (Regulation 6)

PUWER requires equipment that deteriorates in ways that could make it dangerous to be inspected at "suitable intervals" (reg 6(2)) — but does not define those intervals. HSE says to set them through risk assessment, using the manufacturer's recommendations, industry advice and your own experience (HSE).

LOLER overlap: Equipment used for lifting operations — including climbing harnesses, karabiners, slings, blocks, pulleys, aerial work platforms, and crane attachments on lorries — is subject to LOLER 1998 on top of PUWER. LOLER requires a formal "thorough examination" by a competent person (typically an independent inspector) at defined intervals, with written records retained. This is a separate and additional requirement to PUWER inspection.

4. Training and Information (Regulations 8–9)

PUWER requires that anyone using work equipment has received adequate training, information, and instruction. For arborists, this maps directly to:

• Chainsaws: HSE says anyone using a chainsaw on or in a tree should hold a certificate of competence, unless they're training under supervision (HSE). The City & Guilds NPTC 0039 units are the usual route. See our NPTC Chainsaw Certifications Guide for full unit descriptions.
• Wood chippers / stump grinders: PUWER requires adequate training rather than a particular certificate (reg 9). NPTC offers the City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award In Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-chipper (0020-61) and the Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Stump Grinders (0020-59) (NPTC qualifications), and LANTRA and manufacturer-specific training programmes are widely accepted. New operators should not be left unsupervised until formally assessed.
• Tracked loaders / plant: CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) or NPORS cards are the recognised standard on commercial sites. Many principal contractors will not allow uncarded operators.
• Aerial work platforms: IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) PAL card in the right category, e.g. 1B (vehicle-mounted, trailer or outrigger booms), 3A (scissor lifts) or 3B (self-propelled booms) (IPAF categories).

Key point: Handing a new employee a chainsaw and saying "be careful" does not satisfy PUWER Reg. 9. You must provide adequate training, plus information and (where appropriate) written instructions, suited to the hazards of the equipment (PUWER regs 8 and 9). Keeping a record of the training is good practice.

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Documentation — What to Keep

PUWER does not prescribe a form of documentation, but records are how you show what you did. These are the records to keep:

1. Equipment inventory — a list of all work equipment in use, with make, model, serial number, and date of acquisition
2. Maintenance logs — date, work done, parts used, person who did the work. Recommended, not required: PUWER reg 5(2) only says that "where any machinery has a maintenance log, the log is kept up to date"
3. Inspection records — date, findings, any defects noted, actions taken. PUWER reg 6(3) requires that "the result of an inspection made under this regulation is recorded and kept until the next inspection under this regulation is recorded"
4. Training records — name, equipment, training received, date, certificate number (where applicable)
5. Risk assessments — covering the use of each major piece of equipment, updated when anything changes
6. LOLER thorough examination reports — LOLER reg 11(2) says how long each report is kept available for inspection: for an examination before first use, "until he ceases to use the lifting equipment" (for an accessory for lifting, "for two years after the report is made"); for a periodic examination, "until the next report is made under that paragraph or the expiration of two years, whichever is later"

PUWER, LOLER, the vibration regulations and COSHH apply in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own versions, enforced by HSENI.

A simple Excel spreadsheet or paper logbook per machine is sufficient for most arborist businesses.

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When You Buy Second-Hand Equipment

Buying used equipment creates a PUWER compliance gap that many arborists miss. When you purchase a used chipper, chainsaw, or stump grinder:

1. If you buy from another business, you mustn't use the machine until you have evidence of its last PUWER inspection (reg 6(4)) — ask for it, and for the service history, at point of sale
2. Check the machine is suitable and safe before you put it to work. A look-over when you buy only counts as a formal inspection if someone competent does it and you record the result.
3. If records are unavailable, treat the machine as uninspected and commission a formal inspection before use
4. For machines with lifting functions (crane lorries, aerial work platforms), LOLER requires a thorough examination before you first put it into service, unless it comes from another business with physical evidence of its last thorough examination (LOLER reg 9(1) and 9(4)). If there's no such evidence, have it examined before use.

This is why inspection records are listed in our used equipment buying guides as a priority — it's not just about protecting your investment, it's a legal compliance requirement from day one.

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HAV Regulations — The Chainsaw Obligation Most Businesses Underestimate

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (HAVs) applies alongside PUWER for any equipment that creates hand-arm vibration. For arborists, the primary concern is chainsaws, brush cutters and stump grinders.

The regulations set:

• Exposure Action Value (EAV): 2.5 m/s² A(8) — triggers investigation and controls
• Exposure Limit Value (ELV): 5.0 m/s² A(8) — must not be exceeded

In practice for chainsaw operators: HSE puts chainsaw vibration at 3 to 7 m/s². If you don't have better figures for your saw, HSE says to start from 7 m/s². At that level, 1 hour of trigger time a day reaches the EAV and 4 hours reaches the ELV, the legal limit (HSE). Trigger time is the time the saw is running in your hands. HSE says tree work exposures are "likely" to be above the EAV "and possibly around the exposure limit value" (HSE).

Your obligations under HAVs regulations:

1. Assess exposure using manufacturer HAV data and daily use time
2. Reduce exposure as far as reasonably practicable (lower-vibration tools, tool rotation, rest breaks). HSE says controls must be introduced for tree work, not only once the EAV is reached (HSE).
3. Provide health surveillance (HAV questionnaire; refer to occupational health if symptoms arise)
4. Keep records of assessment and any health surveillance

Don't count anti-vibration gloves as a control: HSE says gloves can keep hands warm "but should not be relied upon to provide protection from vibration", and tells employers to select the lowest-vibration tool that is suitable and can do the work efficiently (HSE: controlling HAV risks). This is one reason the shift from petrol to battery-powered top-handle saws has PUWER/HAVs compliance implications beyond just running cost.

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COSHH — Chainsaw Oil and Fuel Handling

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) applies to chainsaw bar oil, two-stroke mix fuel, and stump grinder hydraulic fluids. Practical requirements:

• Store fuel in suitable containers away from heat sources (see HSE's HSG51, The storage of flammable liquids in containers). Fire risks from fuel come under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
• Provide appropriate PPE when handling/decanting (nitrile gloves minimum)
• Keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on site or accessible
• Assess skin exposure risk for operators regularly handling bar oil

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Common PUWER Failures in Arborist Businesses

Gaps worth checking for:

1. No formal maintenance records — a common gap, and the hardest to defend at enforcement
2. Training not evidenced — operator holds a certificate but it's not in a company file
3. Hiring in staff with own equipment — subcontractor brings their own chainsaw; you are still responsible for PUWER compliance for work done under your control
4. Damaged guards on chippers — feed chute guards, discharge chute deflectors — must be in place during operation
5. LOLER examinations overdue on climbing gear — harnesses and karabiners used more than 6 months after their last thorough examination (or outside their written examination scheme)
6. No equipment register — inspector asks for a list of work equipment; business owner cannot produce one

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Quick Compliance Checklist

For most arborist businesses, this is the minimum viable PUWER compliance setup:

• Equipment inventory document (all powered equipment listed)
• Daily pre-use checklist per machine type (chainsaw, chipper, stump grinder)
• Periodic maintenance log per machine
• Training records per operator (NPTC cards, CPCS, LANTRA certificates)
• Risk assessments for chainsaw, chipper, stump grinder, and plant operations
• HAV exposure assessment (chainsaw operators especially)
• LOLER examination dates diarised (climbing equipment, AWPs)
• Defective equipment tagged out and removed from service immediately
• All documentation accessible on site (cloud storage, app, or physical file in van)

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Buying and Selling Compliant Equipment on TreeBay

When you list equipment on TreeBay, put the maintenance and inspection history in your description. Buyers who use kit at work need it: a business buying from another business mustn't use a machine that needs inspecting under PUWER until it has evidence of its last inspection (PUWER reg 6(4)). If you sell as a business, HSE says to provide the instruction manual or a copy and, in some cases where periodic inspection is required (such as lifting equipment), a copy of the last inspection record (HSE: second-hand products).

Browse Kit & machinery on TreeBay and ask sellers for service records, or list your own equipment for sale.

For further reading on equipment maintenance and compliance:

• Wood Chipper Maintenance Schedule UK — daily/weekly/monthly/annual schedule and PUWER log template
• NPTC Chainsaw Certifications Guide UK — chainsaw certificates of competence, costs, and training providers
• Best Chainsaw for Tree Surgery UK 2026 — saw selection, HAV ratings, used inspection checklist
• Mini Tracked Loaders for UK Arborists — CPCS licensing and pre-purchase PUWER inspection steps

Got a question about buying or selling on TreeBay? Visit our FAQ page for platform-specific answers.

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FAQ

Does PUWER apply to sole traders? Yes, for tree work. Since 1 October 2015, PUWER has applied to a self-employed person only where their work is of a prescribed kind (PUWER reg 3(3) and (11)). That includes agriculture (including forestry) and any activity that may put other people's health and safety at risk (SI 2015/1583, reg 2 and Schedule).

How often do chainsaws need a formal PUWER inspection? PUWER doesn't set an interval for chainsaws. Set one from the manufacturer's advice and how hard the saw works, and check it before each use. After anything that could affect its safety (a drop, flooding), inspect it before it goes back into use.

Do I need a LOLER certificate for a climbing harness? Yes. Climbing harnesses, karabiners, slings, and other arborist rigging equipment classified as lifting accessories must be subject to a LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months, or under a written examination scheme drawn up by a competent person (LOLER 1998 reg 9(3)), carried out by a competent person. The competent person can be an outside inspector or someone in-house, as long as they're independent and impartial and don't maintain the kit themselves. LOLER calls the result a report, not a certificate.

What happens if the HSE visits and I have no maintenance records? Maintenance logs aren't required by law (PUWER reg 5(2) only says an existing log must be kept up to date), but without them it's harder to show the equipment has been maintained as reg 5 requires. Where an inspection is required, its result must be recorded (reg 6(3)). The HSE can issue an improvement notice (requiring compliance within a set period), a prohibition notice (immediate halt to operations), or initiate prosecution. A PUWER breach is a criminal offence that can bring a fine or imprisonment, or both, with up to two years' imprisonment on indictment (HSWA 1974 s.33 and Schedule 3A).

Does buying used equipment transfer PUWER compliance from the seller? No. PUWER compliance follows the duty-holder (user/employer), not the machine. When you acquire used equipment, your PUWER obligations begin immediately. Request maintenance records at point of sale, and commission a formal inspection before putting the machine to work.

Official sources

• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
• HSE: PUWER guidance
• The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
• The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
• HSE: hand-arm vibration
• HSE: COSHH
• HSE: tree work