When it comes to workplace safety in the UK, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of the most legally enforced areas employers must get right. Whether you run a construction firm in Manchester, a warehouse in Birmingham, or a care home in Cardiff, the law is clear: if there is a risk that cannot be eliminated or controlled by other means, you must provide appropriate PPE and provide it free of charge.
What Is PPE and Why Does UK Law Require It?
Personal Protective Equipment is any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual to protect against one or more health and safety hazards. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (amended in 2022 to extend rights to limb workers), employers are legally required to carry out a risk assessment to identify hazards, provide suitable PPE where risks cannot be adequately controlled, ensure PPE is properly maintained and replaced, train employees on correct use, and never charge workers for PPE. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces these regulations and can issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, or prosecute non-compliant employers.
Who Does PPE Law Cover?
Since the 2022 amendment, PPE regulations now apply to employees (permanent and part-time staff) and limb-b workers (agency workers, casual workers, those on zero-hours contracts). This significant expansion means businesses relying on temporary or agency staff — such as logistics companies, food processing facilities, and construction contractors — must ensure these workers receive the same PPE protections as permanent employees.
Key UK PPE Legislation
There are four main pieces of legislation UK employers must know:
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (amended 2022) the primary legislation governing PPE provision, covering selection, provision, maintenance, and training.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 the overarching framework for UK workplace health and safety, requiring employers to provide a safe working environment including suitable protective equipment.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 places additional duties on principal contractors regarding PPE planning from the design stage.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires specific controls including respiratory protective equipment where chemical or biological hazards exist.
Choosing Suitable PPE: What the Law Requires
It is not enough to simply hand someone a hard hat. The law requires PPE to be suitable for the hazard and the individual. Suitability means it must be appropriate for the risk involved, take into account ergonomic requirements and the worker's state of health, fit the wearer correctly, comply with relevant British or European standards (e.g. EN ISO 20345 for safety footwear, EN 397 for industrial helmets), and carry CE or UKCA marking.
Staying Compliant: A Practical Checklist
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Conduct and document a thorough workplace risk assessment
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Identify all hazards that require PPE as a control measure
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Source PPE that meets the relevant EN or BS standard
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Ensure PPE is correctly fitted for each individual worker
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Include limb workers and agency staff in your PPE provision
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Establish a PPE inspection and replacement schedule
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Provide documented training to all PPE users
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Store PPE properly in designated, clean areas
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Never deduct PPE costs from employee wages