The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations places an obligation on employers to assess and review the provision and suitability of personal protective equipment at work (PPE).

The employer must assess the need to provide PPE. PPE should be provided only when other control measures have been examined and either implemented or dismissed as not being reasonably practicable.

It is the responsibility of the employer to provide PPE and the employer should not charge the employee for the PPE received.

The PPE will only be deemed to be suitable if:

• it is appropriate for the risks involved;
• it takes into account the ergonomic requirements and the state of health of the wearer;
• it can be fitted properly by the wearer;
• it is effective as a means of controlling risk

If the PPE is to be worn with other items of PPE then all items must be compatible to the task.

Every employee must:

• use PPE in accordance with training and instructions;
• return all PPE equipment to the appropriate accommodation;
• report any defects or loss in the equipment to the employer