The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) is a critical piece of UK legislation designed to ensure the safety of work equipment in all industries, including construction, manufacturing, entertainment, and circus rigging. Its primary purpose is to ensure that equipment used in the workplace is suitable for its intended use, maintained in a safe condition, and operated by competent individuals. PUWER is essential in reducing workplace accidents and ensuring that employees and others are protected when using work equipment.
What Does PUWER Cover?
PUWER applies to all types of work equipment, ranging from simple hand tools to complex machinery. In the context of entertainment or circus rigging, this includes:
• Ropes, pulleys, and winches.
• Trusses and rigging frames.
• Harnesses, carabiners, and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Lifting equipment used for props, lighting, and performers.
Whether it’s suspending a performer in an aerial act or rigging a stage for a production, PUWER ensures that the equipment used is safe, suitable, and well-maintained.
Key Requirements of PUWER
1. Suitability for Purpose:
Employers must ensure that all equipment provided is appropriate for the task and can be used safely. For example, ropes used in aerial rigging must be rated for the dynamic loads that may be placed on them if they are to be used in drops or swinging movements.
2. Maintenance and Inspection:
Equipment must be kept in good working order and regularly inspected to identify and address any defects. This is particularly important for high-risk equipment such as lifting gear and harnesses. Logs of inspections must be kept and through inspections performed every 6 months.
3. Risk Assessment:
A thorough risk assessment must be carried out before equipment is used. This involves identifying potential hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing measures to control them.
4. Training and Competence:
PUWER requires that anyone using work equipment is properly trained and competent. In circus rigging, for instance, both riggers and performers must understand the correct use of ropes, pulleys, and safety systems.
5. Safeguards:
Where necessary, equipment must have appropriate safeguards in place to prevent accidents. For example, winches should have secure enclosures to prevent entanglement, and carabiners must have locking mechanisms to avoid accidental release.
6. Markings and Instructions:
Equipment must be clearly marked with essential information, such as safe working load (WLL and/or SWL) limits, and accompanied by operating instructions. Serial numbers are required to enable the history of each item of equipment to be recorded.
Why PUWER is Essential in Circus and Entertainment
In circus rigging, equipment often supports dynamic loads and is exposed to unique stresses, such as frequent setup and breakdowns, environmental conditions, and creative performance demands. PUWER is designed to ensure that all rigging systems are designed, inspected, and maintained to handle these challenges safely.
For example:
• Aerial equipment such as silks, hoops, and trapezes must meet PUWER standards to prevent failure during performances.
• Winches used to lift performers must be specifically rated for human loads, not just mechanical loads, to ensure safety.
• Trusses used to suspend props and lighting must be inspected regularly to identify any structural issues.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with PUWER can result in severe consequences, including:
• Legal action, fines, or prosecution.
• Increased risk of accidents, leading to injury or fatalities.
• Damage to reputation and operational disruptions.
For example, if defective rigging equipment leads to a performer’s injury, the employer could face significant legal and financial repercussions under PUWER.
How PUWER Relates to Other Regulations
PUWER often works alongside other safety regulations, such as:
• LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations): Focuses on safe lifting practices, particularly for equipment used to lift people or heavy loads.
• Work at Height Regulations 2005: Ensures safety during tasks performed at height.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Provides the overarching framework for workplace health and safety.
Together, these regulations create a comprehensive safety framework for workplaces, particularly high-risk environments like circus rigging.
Conclusion
PUWER is a cornerstone of workplace safety, ensuring that all equipment is suitable, safe, and properly maintained. In circus and entertainment we often need to adapt or use equipment designed for use in other applications. So, it is particularly important that those using the equipment fully understand how it works and how it will behave when used in the way it will be used. Riggers will need to have a through understanding of the loads an entertainment act can generate and how these loads will interact with the equipment. It is only by having this in depth understanding of both the loads involved and the equipment being used that it is possible to remain PUWER compliant. In circus and entertainment rigging, where the stakes are high and the risks significant, compliance with PUWER is essential to protect performers, crew, and audiences. By adhering to its requirements, employers can create a safer working environment, reduce the likelihood of accidents, and ensure that the show goes on without compromise.
See Also LOLER