PPE Regulations 1992: HSE Protective Equipment Rules

Regulatory citation: Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2966), as amended by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022

What Are the PPE at Work Regulations?

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 require employers in Great Britain to provide suitable PPE wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. PPE includes items such as helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing and safety footwear.

The 2022 Amendment

Since 6 April 2022, employer and employee PPE duties also apply to limb (b) workers. These are people who work under a contract to personally perform work or services, often on a casual basis, but who are not in business for themselves. Genuinely self-employed people are not covered by the change.

Core Requirements

1. Use PPE as a Last Resort

PPE does not need to be provided where the risk is adequately controlled by other means that are equally or more effective.

2. Provide Suitable PPE (Regulation 4)

PPE must be appropriate for the risks and conditions, take account of ergonomics and the wearer's health, fit the wearer correctly, prevent or adequately control the risk without increasing overall risk, and comply with relevant product safety law. Where hygiene requires it, PPE must be issued for one person's use only.

3. Ensure Compatibility (Regulation 5)

Where more than one item of PPE is worn, the items must be compatible and remain effective together, for example safety glasses worn with a respirator.

4. Assess PPE Before Choosing It (Regulation 6)

Employers must assess whether the PPE they intend to provide is suitable, considering the risks it must protect against and the characteristics the PPE needs. The assessment must be reviewed if it is no longer valid or circumstances change.

5. Maintain, Replace and Store PPE (Regulations 7 and 8)

PPE must be maintained in efficient working order and good repair, replaced when needed, and provided with appropriate accommodation when not in use.

6. Information, Training and Use (Regulations 9 to 11)

Workers must be given information, instruction and training on the risks, the purpose of the PPE and how to use and look after it. Workers must use PPE in line with their training, return it to storage after use, and report any loss or obvious defect.

Common Compliance Approaches

Don't Charge for PPE

Employers cannot charge workers for PPE they need to do their work.

Provide the Same PPE to All Workers

Where employees and limb (b) workers do the same work, the PPE provided should not differ between them.

Check the Right Regulations

PPE for risks covered by COSHH, noise, asbestos, lead and ionising radiation regulations is dealt with under those regulations instead.

Example: PPE in Practice

A warehouse uses agency workers alongside employees to handle steel stock. After reorganizing picking to reduce handling, its PPE assessment still identifies cut and crush risks. It issues properly fitted cut-resistant gloves and safety boots to everyone doing the work, regardless of contract type, trains them on use and inspection, provides lockers for storage, and sets up a simple process for reporting and replacing damaged items at no cost.

Related regulations: OSHA PPE Standards, HSE COSHH, HSE Noise at Work.

Note: This summary reflects the regulations as they apply in Great Britain, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities. Northern Ireland has equivalent but separate legislation. Always check the current legislation and HSE guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What changed in the PPE regulations in 2022?

From 6 April 2022, the duties to provide PPE, assess its suitability, maintain and store it, and provide training were extended to limb (b) workers. Those workers also took on the duties to use PPE properly and report loss or defects.

Can an employer charge workers for PPE?

No. Employers cannot charge workers for PPE they need to carry out their work, and this applies to limb (b) workers covered by the 2022 changes as well as employees.

Is PPE always required where there is a risk?

No. PPE is required where risks are not adequately controlled by other means that are equally or more effective. Employers should always consider other controls first, because PPE only protects the wearer and only when worn and fitted correctly.