Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) Arriving at PUWER 98 In the period after 1961 when the last of the factories act(s) was made, safety requirements for a wide range of machinery were specified either by that statute or by regulations made under the factories act. The act covered such wide-ranging issues as : Machinery guarding Construction and sales of machinery Hoists and lifts Chains, ropes and lifting tackle Cranes and other lifting machines Steam boilers and air receivers Regulations made under the factories act laid down requirements in "notional factories" such as docks, construction, etc. Whilst industries such as mines and quarries had their own act and regulations.