Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations

What is personal protective equipment?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is defined in these Regulations as “all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health and safety”. Examples of PPE are: gloves, ear plugs, safety footwear, goggles, welding visors, and high visibility clothing.

Summary of Regulations

Employers’ duties:

  • provide PPE to employees wherever health and safety risks cannot be adequately protected against by other means
    *All personal protective equipment provided under these or other Health and Safety Regulations must be free of charge to employees
  • select PPE that is suitable for the risk, for employees who will be using it, and for the working environment
  • assess the PPE available to ensure it is suitable
  • maintain the PPE in a clean and effective condition
  • provide suitable accommodation for PPE provided
  • ensure that the PPE provided is properly used
  • provide information, instruction and training in correct use of PPE provided

Employees’ duties:

  • use PPE provided, in accordance with training and instruction given
  • report any loss or obvious defect in equipment provided
  • take all reasonable steps to ensure that PPE is returned to the accommodation provided after use

Contractors’ duties:

Self-employed workers who are provided with PPE have similar duties to employees. Otherwise, they must provide themselves with suitable PPE, keep it clean and maintained, and stored in suitable accommodation when not in use.

Key points to remember:

Are there other ways to adequately control risk?

If not, check that:

PPE is provided

it offers adequate protection for the intended use

it is comfortable and fits the user

people using it are adequately trained in correct use

it is properly maintained and defects reported

it is returned to its proper accommodation after use

Note on purchasing PPE

New personal protective equipment should carry a ‘CE’ mark. The ‘CE’ mark signifies that the PPE satisfies certain basic safety requirements and in most cases will have been tested and certified by an independent body. ‘CE’ marks are gradually replacing British Standard Kitemarks.

When purchasing new PPE, make sure that it carries a ‘CE’ mark and is the correct category of equipment.

Do not be tempted to purchase cheaper PPE designed for occasional DIY use or low risks, if more robust, higher category PPE is needed.

Category 1 - protects against low risk e.g. light gardening gloves, washing up gloves

Category 2 - medium risk protection

Category 3 - most serious risk protection e.g. fall-arrest harness, respirators

Non - ‘CE’ marked PPE that the University already has in use or stock can continue to be used, providing it is in good condition and still offers adequate protection.

Contract for supply of PPE

The University has approved suppliers for PPE. For catalogues and details about ordering, see the Procurement and Business Services pages on the University website.