Free puwer equipment risk assessment
Jump to download form ↓Enter your email below to download this puwer equipment risk assessment as a ready-to-use PDF.
Free PUWER equipment risk assessment template (PDF). Covers Regulation 3 suitability, hazard scoring and control measures per PUWER 1998. Download free.
Commercial Director
Updated 3 May 2026
How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.
- PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
- Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
- Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails
Download free PDF template
Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Used by construction, mining and field service teams
What is a puwer equipment risk assessment?
A PUWER equipment risk assessment is a structured document used to identify, evaluate and control the risks associated with work equipment under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Regulation 3 requires employers to ensure that work equipment is suitable for its intended purpose and that the risks arising from its use have been assessed and adequately controlled. This assessment covers the selection of equipment (Regulation 4), identification of hazards such as entanglement, crushing, shearing, impact, ejection, electrical contact and thermal exposure, evaluation of risk severity and likelihood, and the specification of control measures including guarding (Regulations 11 to 13), safe controls (Regulations 14 to 18), maintenance requirements (Regulation 5) and operator training needs (Regulation 9).
Conducting a formal risk assessment before commissioning new work equipment or when existing equipment is modified, relocated or used for a different purpose is a fundamental duty under PUWER. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance document L22 (Safe Use of Work Equipment) and INDG291 (Simple Guide to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) both emphasise that a documented risk assessment is the starting point for all PUWER compliance decisions. Without a written assessment, employers cannot demonstrate that they have identified the hazards, evaluated the risks and selected appropriate control measures. This template provides a repeatable, auditable framework that safety officers, maintenance managers and competent persons can use whenever work equipment is introduced, reviewed or investigated following an incident.
Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this puwer equipment risk assessment
- PUWER Regulation 3 compliance: a documented risk assessment demonstrates that the employer has fulfilled the duty to ensure work equipment is suitable and that risks have been evaluated before the equipment is put into service.
- Hazard identification: the structured format prompts assessors to consider all relevant hazard categories, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, noise, vibration and ergonomic hazards, reducing the chance of overlooking less obvious risks.
- Risk prioritisation: scoring each hazard by severity and likelihood produces a ranked list that directs resources toward the highest risks first, ensuring control measures are proportionate and effective.
- Control measure traceability: linking each identified hazard to specific PUWER regulation numbers (Regs 5, 9, 11 to 18, 20 to 24) creates a clear audit trail showing which regulatory duty each control measure satisfies.
- Maintenance planning: hazards identified during the risk assessment inform the planned preventive maintenance schedule, inspection intervals and spare parts requirements for each piece of equipment.
- Training alignment: the assessment identifies where operator competence is critical, feeding directly into training plans and competency records required by PUWER Regulation 9.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move your assessments from paper to MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Auto-apply the correct regulatory standard (OSHA, HSE, WHS) based on site location.
- Generate region-specific compliance reports that match local regulator expectations.
- Track jurisdiction-specific inspection intervals and certification requirements.
Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles assessments.
Try MapTrack free for 30 days
Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.
- No credit card required
- 30 days free trial
- Cancel anytime
1-2 days/week saved
“Bloody amazing! We used to spend 1-2 days a week tracking and managing our generators alone.”
Steve McAllister
Asset Coordinator, Saunders International
What to include in a puwer equipment risk assessment
This puwer equipment risk assessment covers 11 key areas:
- Equipment details: description, make, model, serial or asset number, location, date of purchase or installation, intended use and operating environment.
- Assessment details: assessor name, role, competence statement, date of assessment, reason for assessment (new equipment, modification, relocation, periodic review, post-incident).
- Hazard identification: list every foreseeable hazard category, including entanglement, crushing, shearing, stabbing, puncture, impact, friction or abrasion, high-pressure fluid injection, ejection of parts or material, electrical contact, thermal burn, noise exposure, vibration exposure, dust or fume generation, and ergonomic strain.
- Persons at risk: operators, maintenance personnel, cleaners, passers-by, visitors and contractors who may be exposed to each hazard.
- Existing controls: guards (fixed, interlocked, adjustable), protective devices (light curtains, two-hand controls, pressure mats), emergency stops, warning signs, operating procedures and PPE currently in place.
- Risk scoring: severity rating (e.g. 1 to 5) multiplied by likelihood rating (e.g. 1 to 5) to produce a risk score for each hazard, with defined action bands (low, medium, high, critical).
- Additional control measures: for any hazard where the residual risk is not as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP), specify additional engineering controls, procedural controls, PPE or training required, with responsible person and target completion date.
- Residual risk: re-score each hazard after planned additional controls are implemented to confirm the residual risk is acceptable.
- PUWER regulation mapping: for each control measure, reference the specific PUWER regulation it satisfies (e.g. Reg 11 for guarding dangerous parts, Reg 14 for controls, Reg 20 for stability).
- Review schedule: state when the assessment will be reviewed (e.g. annually, after modification, after incident) and who is responsible for the review.
- Sign-off: assessor signature, responsible manager approval, date.
How to use this puwer equipment risk assessment
- Record the equipment details, operating environment and the reason for the assessment at the top of the form.: Enter the equipment description, make, model, serial or asset number and location. Describe the intended use, the operating environment (indoor, outdoor, wet, dusty, confined) and any non-standard conditions such as extreme temperatures, corrosive atmospheres or remote locations. State the reason for the assessment: new equipment procurement, modification, change of use, relocation, periodic review or investigation following a near miss or incident.
- Walk around the equipment and systematically identify every foreseeable hazard, recording who may be harmed and how.: Inspect the equipment from every access point. Consider each hazard category in turn: mechanical (entanglement, crushing, shearing, impact, ejection), electrical (contact with live parts, static discharge), thermal (hot surfaces, cold surfaces, fire), noise, vibration, ergonomic (manual handling, awkward posture, repetitive motion), and substance hazards (dust, fume, fluid). For each hazard, note which persons are at risk (operators, maintenance staff, cleaners, passers-by) and the mechanism of harm.
- Evaluate existing control measures against PUWER regulation requirements and score each hazard for severity and likelihood.: For each hazard, record what controls are already in place (guards, interlocks, emergency stops, procedures, PPE). Check whether each control satisfies the relevant PUWER regulation: Regulation 11 (guarding dangerous parts), Regulation 12 (protection against specific hazards), Regulation 14 (controls), Regulation 15 (stop controls), Regulation 16 (emergency stop), Regulation 20 (stability). Score severity from 1 (minor injury) to 5 (fatality) and likelihood from 1 (very unlikely) to 5 (almost certain). Multiply to produce the risk score.
- For any hazard where the risk score exceeds the acceptable threshold, specify additional control measures with responsible persons and target dates.: Apply the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls (fixed guards, interlocked guards, light curtains), administrative controls (procedures, training, signage) and PPE. Each additional control measure must reference the PUWER regulation it addresses and have a named responsible person and a target completion date. Where engineering controls are not immediately practicable, document interim measures and the timeline for permanent solutions.
- Re-score the residual risk after planned controls, confirm it is ALARP, sign the assessment and schedule the next review.: For each hazard, estimate the residual risk score assuming the additional control measures are fully implemented. If any residual risk remains above the acceptable threshold, add further controls or escalate to senior management for a decision on whether the equipment should be used. Sign the assessment, obtain approval from the responsible manager, and record the next review date. File the completed assessment with the equipment maintenance records.
In MapTrack, you can digitise regulatory compliance forms for your region. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full puwer equipment risk assessment as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this assessment?
A PUWER equipment risk assessment should be conducted before any new work equipment is put into service, and reviewed whenever the equipment is modified, relocated, used for a different purpose, or involved in a near miss or incident. HSE guidance L22 recommends that risk assessments for work equipment are reviewed at least annually as part of the planned maintenance and inspection programme. Equipment that operates in harsh environments, is used by multiple operators or has a history of defects should be reviewed more frequently, for example every six months.
The assessment must also be reviewed whenever there is a change in legislation, published guidance or industry standards that affects the control measures in place. If a RIDDOR-reportable incident occurs involving the equipment, the risk assessment should be reviewed immediately as part of the incident investigation and before the equipment is returned to service.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- PUWER 1998 Regulation 3 (Risk assessment and suitability of work equipment)
- PUWER 1998 Regulations 4-24 (Specific duties for work equipment)
- HSE L22 - Safe Use of Work Equipment (PUWER Approved Code of Practice and Guidance)
- HSE INDG291 - Simple Guide to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
Embed this free template on your website
Run an industry blog, trade association site, or training resource? Drop a preview of this free puwer equipment risk assessment straight into your page. The snippet is self-contained, needs no scripts, and links readers back to the full free template.
<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0E7490;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">PUWER equipment risk assessment</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Equipment details: description, make, model, serial or asset number, location, date of purchase or installation, intended use and operating environment.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Assessment details: assessor name, role, competence statement, date of assessment, reason for assessment (new equipment, modification, relocation, periodic review, post-incident).</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Hazard identification: list every foreseeable hazard category, including entanglement, crushing, shearing, stabbing, puncture, impact, friction or abrasion, high-pressure fluid injection, ejection of parts or material, electrical contact, thermal burn, noise exposure, vibration exposure, dust or fume generation, and ergonomic strain.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Persons at risk: operators, maintenance personnel, cleaners, passers-by, visitors and contractors who may be exposed to each hazard.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Existing controls: guards (fixed, interlocked, adjustable), protective devices (light curtains, two-hand controls, pressure mats), emergency stops, warning signs, operating procedures and PPE currently in place.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Risk scoring: severity rating (e.g. 1 to 5) multiplied by likelihood rating (e.g. 1 to 5) to produce a risk score for each hazard, with defined action bands (low, medium, high, critical).</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/puwer-equipment-risk-assessment" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">PUWER equipment risk assessment</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Please keep the “by MapTrack” attribution link in the snippet.
Need to digitise regulatory compliance forms for your region?
Register every asset in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.
Compliance and inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo