Where a risk to health or safety cannot be adequately controlled in any other way, you must give the people who work for you suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), keep it in good order and make sure they know how to use it. This covers employees and, since 6 April 2022, limb (b) workers.
Decide whether PPE is needed
PPE protects only the person wearing it, and only if it is chosen, fitted and used properly, so you must provide it only when the risk is not adequately controlled by other means that are equally or more effective. Your risk assessment sets the order of preference.
If you decide PPE is needed, assess it before you buy. Check that it is appropriate for the risks, that it does not itself create a greater risk, that it suits the job and the place where it is used, and that it fits the person wearing it. Compare it with the characteristics the PPE needs to have. Review the assessment if it is no longer valid or the work changes.
The PPE regulations do not apply to hazards where more specific rules already require protective equipment, such as lead, asbestos, ionising radiation, noise and hazardous substances. The rules for those hazards take precedence.
Who is covered
What you must do
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Choose suitable PPE
Pick PPE that is CE or UKCA marked, gives the protection the risk needs and suits the task, the conditions and the person wearing it. Involve the people who will wear it, and do not modify it to make it fit.
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Make sure items work together
If someone needs more than one item, check they can be worn together without reducing protection. For example, glasses can stop a respirator sealing against the face.
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Give it to each person free of charge
Provide the PPE at no cost to the people covered by the regulations, including limb (b) workers. Where hygiene or health requires it, give each person their own.
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Fit-test tight-fitting respirators
Tight-fitting facepieces must be fit tested for each make, model and size by a competent person. A beard or stubble in the seal area stops the facepiece working, so offer a loose-fitting alternative where someone cannot be clean-shaven.
Train people to use it
Maintain, store and replace it
You are not required to keep records of PPE by the regulations, but a note of what you issued, to whom, and when it was checked or replaced shows you have met your duties and helps you spot gaps.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local authority enforces the regulations, depending on your type of business.
HSE: personal protective equipment at work (opens in a new tab)
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations