Plant hire compliance software for UK plant hire companies

Two regimes apply. Under PUWER 1998, work equipment must be maintained, and inspected where safety depends on installation or conditions. Under LOLER 1998, lifting equipment must have a thorough examination by a competent person — at least every 6 months for equipment used to lift people (for example MEWPs) and for lifting accessories, and at least every 12 months for other lifting equipment — unless a competent person's written examination scheme specifies different intervals. Complys stores every thorough-examination report and PUWER record against the machine.

The legal duty (PUWER 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work Act) is that operators are trained and competent for the machine. CPCS and NPORS are the recognised plant-operator card schemes, and IPAF covers MEWPs — sites routinely require them as evidence of competence, but they are not statutory cards in themselves. Complys tracks each operator's cards, categories and expiry dates.

Where employers' liability insurance is required (if you have employees), the statutory minimum cover is £5m, though £10m is commonly offered. Public liability, and plant/own-plant cover for the machines you own and hire out, depend on your fleet, hire terms and risk profile. Complys tracks every certificate expiry.

Hirers and principal contractors increasingly ask for LOLER and PUWER evidence and operator competence before accepting plant on site. Complys keeps your plant register, thorough-examination certificates, maintenance records and operator cards in one place, ready to share with a hirer in seconds rather than digging through paperwork.