PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Health and Safety Guidance Note
INTRODUCTION PROVISION AND USE OF PPE
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is The main requirement of the Personal
equipment that is worn by individuals to Protective Equipment at Work Regulations is
minimise the effects from hazards within the that PPE is to be supplied and used at work
workplace. The Personal Protective Equipment wherever there are risks to health and safety
Regulations specify the requirements that cannot be adequately controlled in other
employers must meet in relation to the ways.
provision and use of personal protective
equipment at work. Because the effectiveness of PPE can be easily
compromised (e.g. it only protects the wearer
and needs to be worn and fitted properly), it
WHAT IS PPE? should always be considered as the last resort
Personal Protective Equipment is all and used only where other precautions cannot
equipment (including clothing providing adequately reduce the risk of injury or ill
protection against the weather) which is health. Even where engineering controls and
intended to be worn by people at work to safe systems of work are in place, hazards may
protect them against health and safety still have the potential to cause harm. These
hazards. These typically include safety could result in injuries and/or illness to:
helmets, gloves, eye protection, high • Lungs, e.g. from breathing in contaminated air.
visibility clothing, safety footwear, etc. • Hearing, e.g. from noisy tools and machinery
Hearing protection and respiratory • Head and feet, e.g. from falling materials.
protective equipment provided for most • Eyes, e.g. from flying particles or splashes of
work situations are not covered by these corrosive liquids.
Regulations because other regulations • Skin, e.g. from contact with corrosive materials.
apply to them. However, these items need • Body, e.g. from extremes of heat or cold.
to be compatible with any other PPE
provided. However, where PPE is the only effective
means of controlling the risk of injury or ill
Cycle helmets or crash helmets worn by health, then employers must ensure that it is
employees on the roads are not covered available for use – free of charge.
by the Regulations. Motorcycle helmets
are legally required for motorcyclists Whenever PPE is issued it is advisable to
under road traffic legislation. However have staff sign to acknowledge receipt of the
in off road situations, employers should equipment. An example PPE Issue Record
provide suitable transport helmets, for Form is provided in Appendix 1. In addition,
example crash helmets for farm workers it is advisable to have employees sign to
who use all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). acknowledge having been instructed and
trained on when and how to wear/use such
Clothing is not considered PPE if it is: equipment.
• A uniform provided for the primary
purpose of presenting a corporate Most PPE is provided on a personal basis but
image. may be shared by employees, for example
• Ordinary working clothing. where it is only required for limited periods.
When shared, employers need to ensure such
• ‘Protective clothing’ provided in
equipment is properly cleaned and, where
the food industry primarily for food
required decontaminated to ensure there are
hygiene purposes.
no health risks to the next person using it.

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Employers have a legal duty to ensure that • I s it effective to prevent or adequately
employees wear relevant PPE. Never allow control the risks involved without increasing
exemptions from wearing PPE for those jobs the overall risk? Other factors to consider
that ‘only take a few minutes’. Employees are, for example, the physical effort needed
also have a legal duty to co-operate with their to do the job, how long the PPE needs to be
employer and wear such equipment, report its worn, and the requirements for visibility and
loss or destruction, or any fault in it. Where communication.
an employee refuses a reasonable request to • Is it designed and manufactured to the
wear PPE then you should consider the use of applicable standard for that item of personal
formal disciplinary action. protective equipment?
• If more than one item of PPE is being worn,
ASSESSING SUITABLE PPE are they compatible? For example, does the
Ensure any PPE you buy is ‘CE’ marked use of a particular type of respirator make it
and complies with the requirements of the difficult to get eye protection to fit properly?
Personal Protective Equipment Regulations.
The CE marking signifies that the PPE Those who do the job are usually best placed
satisfies certain basic safety requirements to know what is involved, and they should be
and in some cases will have been tested and consulted and involved in the selection and
certified by an independent body. specification of the equipment – there is a
better chance of PPE being used effectively if
To allow the right type of PPE to be chosen, it is accepted by each wearer.
the different hazards in the workplace need to
be considered carefully. Once you know what The following table, provides some examples
the hazards are, you can make an assessment of the types of PPE that can be used to protect
of which types of PPE are suitable to protect parts of the body against particular hazards.
against these hazards and for the job to be
done. You need to consider:
• who is exposed and to what?
• how long are they exposed for?
• how much are they exposed to?.

A PPE needs checklist is included in Appendix

2 to help carry out the assessment.

The following factors should be considered

when assessing the suitability of PPE:
• Is it appropriate for the risk(s) involved and
the conditions at the place where exposure
to the risk may occur for example the
weather if working outside, heating, noise,
atmospheric conditions, etc.?
• Does it take account of ergonomic
requirements and the state of health of the
person who may wear it?
• Is it capable of fitting the wearer correctly
and comfortably to properly protect them
from the hazard, e.g. respirators?

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 Hazards Choices
Eyes Chemical or metal Spectacles; goggles; face-shields; face screens; visors.
splash, dust, projectiles,
gas and vapour; Note: Where employees wear prescription glasses the employer should
radiation make a reasonable contribution to cover the cost of prescription safety
glasses/goggles, as over glasses may not be suitable or practical.
Note: Make sure the eye protection chosen has the right combination of
impact/dust/splash/molten metal eye protection for the task and fits the
user properly.

Head and Impact from falling or Industrial safety helmets, bump caps, hairnets and firefighters’ helmets.
Neck flying objects, risk of
head bumping, hair Note:
getting tangled in • Some safety helmets incorporate or can be fitted with specially-
machinery, chemical designed eye or hearing protection
drips or splash, climate • Don’t forget neck protection, e.g. scarves for use during welding
or temperature. • Replace head protection if it is damaged.

Breathing Dust; vapour; gas; Disposable face-masks or respirator; half/full face respirators; air-fed
oxygen deficient helmets; breathing apparatus
atmospheres
Note:
• The right type of respirator filter must be used as each is effective for
only a limited range of substances
• Filters have only a limited life. Where there is a shortage of oxygen or any
danger of losing consciousness due to exposure to high levels of harmful
fumes, only use breathing apparatus – never use a filtering cartridge
• You will need to use breathing apparatus in a confined space or if there
is a chance of an oxygen deficiency in the work area.

Protecting Heat, chemical or metal Conventional or disposable overalls; boiler suits; coats; specialist
the Body splash, spray from protective clothing e.g. high visibility clothing; Kevlar clothing;
pressure leaks or spray chain-mail aprons; aprons; chemical suits
guns, contaminated
dust, impact or Note:
penetration, excessive • The choice of materials includes flame-retardant, anti-static, chain
wear or entanglement mail, chemically impermeable, and high-visibility
of own clothing. • Don’t forget other protection, like safety harnesses or life jackets.

Hands Abrasion, temperature Gloves, gloves with a cuff, gauntlets and sleeving that covers part or all
and Arms extremes, cuts and of the arm
punctures, impact,
chemicals, electric Note:
shock, radiation, • Avoid gloves when operating machines such as bench drills where the
vibration, biological gloves might get caught
agents and prolonged • Some materials are quickly penetrated by chemicals – take care in
immersion in water selection, see HSE’s skin at work website
• Barrier creams are unreliable and are no substitute for proper PPE
• Wearing gloves for long periods can make the skin hot and sweaty,
leading to skin problems. Using separate cotton inner gloves can help
prevent this.

Feet and Wet, hot and cold Safety boots and shoes with protective toecaps and penetration-resistant,
Legs conditions, electrostatic mid-sole wellington boots and specific footwear, e.g. foundry boots and
build-up, slipping, cuts chainsaw boots.
and punctures, falling
objects, heavy loads, Note: Footwear can have a variety of sole patterns and materials to help
metal and chemical prevent slips in different conditions, including oil – or chemical-resistant
splash, vehicles soles. It can also be anti-static, electrically conductive or thermally
insulating.

Ears Noise – a combination Earplugs, earmuffs, semi-insert/canal caps

of sound level and
duration of exposure, Note:
very high-level sounds • Provide the right hearing protectors for the type of work, and make
are a hazard even with sure workers know how to fit them
short duration • Choose protectors that reduce noise to an acceptable level, while
allowing for safety and communication.

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There will be considerable differences in the RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING
physical dimensions of different workers and Where respiratory protective equipment
therefore more than one type or size of PPE (RPE) is used it is vital that the selected RPE
may be needed. The required range may not is adequate and fits the wearer properly. Ill-
be available from a single supplier. fitting face pieces can create inward leakages
of airborne contaminants. As people come in
Suppliers should be able to advise on the
all sorts of shapes and sizes it is unlikely that
different types of PPE available and their
one particular type or size of RPE face piece
suitability for different tasks. In some cases,
will fit everyone.
it may be necessary to obtain advice from
specialist sources such as manufacturers Respirator fit testing must be conducted by
equipment, industry bodies, PPE a competent person on all wearers of tight
manufacturers etc. fitting respirators to ensure that the equipment
selected is suitable for the wearer. The best
TRAINING IN THE USE OF PPE time to do fit testing is at the initial selection
Users of PPE should be made aware of why stage when individual users can be given a
the equipment is needed; when it is to be choice of adequate models of RPE.
used, repaired or replaced; and its limitations.
People involved in maintaining, repairing and
testing the equipment and in its selection for SUPERVISION
use will also need training. Training should
Management should regularly check
include elements of theory as well as practice
the use of PPE and investigate fully any
in using the equipment, and should be carried
reasons for non-use. Supervision is vital
out in accordance with any recommendations
to ensure PPE is properly used both on
and instructions supplied by the PPE
and off site. It is important that those with
manufacturer.
a supervisory role are also provided with
The extent of the training that is required adequate training and instructions so that
will depend on the type of equipment, how they have the necessary skills to carry
frequently it is used and the needs of the out the job. Spot checks are a useful way
people being trained. Many manufacturers of monitoring how well PPE is used and
of PPE run training courses for users of their corrective action can then be taken if spot
equipment and these courses may be of checks reveal misuse.
particular benefit to small users who do not
have training facilities.
PPE SAFETY SIGNS
As well as initial training, users of PPE and Safety signs can be useful reminders to wear
others involved with the equipment may need PPE. Below are examples of some of the safety
refresher training from time to time. Records signs indicating the type of PPE that MUST be
of training details should be kept to help with worn.
the efficient administration of the training
programme.

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PPE SAFETY SIGNS
Safety signs can be useful reminders to wear PPE. Below are examples of some of the safety signs
indicating the type of PPE that MUST be worn.

Safety Glasses Safety Goggles Face Shield Safety Helmet

Hearing Protection Safety Boots High-vis Vest Safety Gloves

Dust Mask Half-face Mask Overall Safety Harness

MAINTENANCE OF PPE To avoid unnecessary loss of time or the risk

PPE must be well looked after and be carefully of work being done without the necessary PPE,
stored when not in use, e.g. kept in a dry, clean it is advisable that suitable replacement PPE
cupboard, or in the case of smaller items such as should always be readily available to the worker.
eye protection in a plastic box or case. The PPE
should be kept clean and in good repair. Where FURTHER GUIDANCE
applicable, the manufacturer’s maintenance • H
 SE Website: Risk at Work - Personal
schedule (including recommended replacement protective equipment (PPE)
periods) should be followed. [Link]/toolbox/[Link]
• L
 25 Personal protective equipment at work
An effective maintenance system includes the
(Second edition) –
following:
[Link]/pubns/priced/[Link]
• Examination check for faults, damage, wear
and tear, dirt etc; • INDG174(rev2) Personal protective
• Testing to ensure PPE is operating as intended; equipment (PPE) at work – a brief guide
• Cleaning to include disinfection if appropriate; [Link]/pubns/[Link]
• Repair; • HSG53 Respiratory protective equipment at
• Replacement. work: A practical guide
[Link]/pubns/priced/[Link]
Simple maintenance can be carried out by
a wearer having suitable training; however, These documents are available to download
more intricate repairs should only be done by free of charge from [Link]/pubns/
specialist personnel. A record should be kept books/
of all maintenance carried out.

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PPE ISSUE RECORD

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Completion of this form will enable managers to maintain a record of PPE for individual employees. Details of training (where applicable) are also included.

Name of employee issued with PPE

Job title

Item of PPE Type Date of Issue Employee’s Signature Training Required Re-Issue Dates
as Proof of Receipt and Understanding (if issue is daily or freely accessible enter frequency or F/A)
of Responsibility to Wear

Head Protection

Hearing Protection

Eye Protection

Respiratory Protective
Equipment (RPE)

Overalls

Gloves

Footwear

Safety Harness

High Visibility
Clothing
Other (Specify)

Members of staff are responsible for inspecting their own PPE before and after use; reporting any defects in their
PPE; wearing PPE as instructed (either verbally or in writing); and storing their PPE appropriately.

Record maintained by (Line Manager)

Signature
PPE NEEDS CHECKLIST

Task:

Number of persons carrying out task:

Date:

Person completing checklist:

Is the following protection required?

1. Head Protection Yes No

Protection of the head in the event of a fall.
Protection of the head against falling objects or impact with fixed objects.
Protection against striking fixed obstacles, scalping or entanglement.

2. Eye Protection Yes No
Lateral protection.
Total protection from all angles.
Full-face protection, but not enclosing the eyes.

3. Foot Protection Yes No
Slip resistance.
Oil resistant.
Shock resistant.
Heat resistance.
Anti-static.
Conductive.
Toecap reinforcement to prevent crushing.
Midsole reinforcement to prevent penetration.
Moulding or bonding of the sole and upper against separation.
Waterproof.

4. Hand and Arm Protection Yes No
Penetration and abrasion.
Thermal protection.
Chemical/biological protection.

5. Hearing Protection Yes No
Noise levels exceeding 85 dB(A).

6. Respiratory Protection Yes No
Dusts and particulates.
Gases and vapours.
Asphyxiation.

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7. Protective Clothing for the Body Yes No
Low risk chemicals.
Strong solvents, oils and greases.
Whole-body protection against chemicals.
Whole-body protection against vapour.
Splash resistance.
Fibres and dusts.
Keeping dry.
Keeping warm.
Protection against specific equipment hazards.
High visibility.
Fall from height.
Buoyancy.

8. Manufacture Yes No
Is the PPE manufactured to the correct CE, CEN/BS standard?

9. Condition Yes No
Is the PPE in good condition?

10. Storage Yes No
Are the storage facilities for PPE satisfactory?

11. Training Yes No
Has training on how to use PPE been provided?
Has refresher training been provided where necessary?

To note: A competent person should complete the checklist. Where an affirmative response is given then the
action required should be stated below. After an action is completed, it should be signed off.

Actions Required Completed by and date

Review by competent person/manager

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This guidance is provided for general information purposes only. This guidance does not constitute,
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express or implied, is given in relation to this guidance. We shall not be liable for any technical,
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any guidance in relation to your specific set up.

This guidance note contains public sector information published by the Health and
Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.

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