Hi. Does anyone know if PUWER applies to wheel chairs brought into a day centre by a service user for their own personal use? I'm not sure how far to take pre user checks, as technically the equipment is the service users not the organisations, but I am concious that we have a duty to staff to ensure equipment is safe for them to use (or in this case push the wheel chair enabling the service user to get around).

As long as people understnd how wheelchairs are used. The user should be involved in any pre use checks as it is they who use the chair. I once had a LEA H&H Manager tell me my daughter couldn't use her sports wheelchair in school because it does not have brakes. I had to point out that wheelchairs used for sports do not have brakes fitted. She thought brakes were used to stop the wheelchair without knowing it is the user who is in full control.