Protective Workwear and PPE

According to the Health and safety executive Employers have basic duties concerning the provision and use of personal protective clothing (PPE) at work so you need to know your obligation to meet the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations act 1992.


The conscientious workwear purchaser should consider the following when assessing whether PPE is suitable:

• Is it appropriate for the risks involved and the conditions at the place where exposure to the risk may occur? For example, eye protection designed for providing protection against agricultural pesticides will not offer adequate face protection for someone using an angle grinder to cut steel or stone.
• Does it prevent or adequately control the risks involved without increasing theoverall level of risk?
• Can it be adjusted to fit the wearer correctly?
• n Has the state of health of those who will be wearing it been taken into
• account?
• What are the needs of the job and the demands it places on the wearer? For
• example, the length of time the PPE needs to be worn, the physical effort
• required to do the job and the requirements for visibility (i.e. hi vis vests) and communication.
• If more than one item of PPE is being worn, are they compatible?

Also depending on the area of work many other regulations may need to be taken into account such as:

• The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.
• The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
• The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
• The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989.
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as
• amended).
• The Noise at Work Regulations 1989.

More information can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive website (http://www.hse.gov.uk)