The UK PPE at Work Regulations require employers to provide suitable personal protective equipment free of charge when a risk assessment shows it is needed.
The rules apply to employees and, since 6 April 2022, to limb (b) workers who personally perform work but are not genuinely running an independent business for the employer.Β
Compliance is not simply buying gloves, helmets, eye protection or safety footwear. Employers must first consider whether the risk can be removed or controlled in a better way, then select suitable PPE, train workers, maintain it, store it correctly, supervise use and review it when the job changes.
What The PPE Regulations Are
The main law is the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, often called PPER 1992. These regulations set the practical duties for PPE at work. They require suitable PPE to be provided where risks to health or safety remain after other controls have been considered.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 did not create a completely new PPE system. It amended the 1992 Regulations so that duties in regulations 4 to 11 extend from employees to workers, including limb (b) workers. That matters for employers using casual labour, some agency arrangements, self-employed operatives who work personally, temporary warehouse staff, maintenance workers, delivery support and similar working relationships.
A limb (a) worker is an employee. A limb (b) worker is generally someone who undertakes to do work personally for another party but is not carrying out the work as a client or customer of their own separate business. Employment status is fact-specific, so employers should not assume that calling someone self-employed removes PPE duties.
PPE Should Come After Stronger Controls
HSE guidance is clear that PPE is normally a last resort. Employers should not jump straight to gloves, goggles, masks or safety footwear if the hazard can be removed or reduced in a more reliable way. The usual process is simple: eliminate the hazard, substitute it for something safer, use engineering controls, introduce safe systems of work, then use PPE for any remaining risk.
Example: a warehouse should not rely only on safety shoes and high visibility clothing where forklifts and pedestrians mix. Better controls include separate walkways, barriers, traffic routes, speed limits, trained drivers and good lighting. PPE may still be needed, but it is not the full control plan.
1992 Regulations and 2022 Amendment Compared
| Area | 1992 Regulations | 2022 Amendment | Current employer action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal role | Created the core PPE duties for workplaces. | Amended the 1992 rules. | Follow the 1992 Regulations as amended. |
| Who was covered | Employees under a contract of employment. | Extended duties to limb (b) workers. | Map employees, casual workers, agency arrangements and contractors. |
| Employer duties | Provide suitable PPE, assess it, maintain it, store it, train users and ensure proper use. | The same duties were extended to a wider worker group. | Do not run weaker PPE systems for limb (b) workers. |
| Charging | Employers could not charge employees for required PPE. | No charge also applies to covered workers for PPE, storage, maintenance and training. | Remove deposits, deductions or purchase requirements for mandatory PPE. |
| Worker duties | Employees had to use PPE properly and report loss or obvious defects. | Limb (b) workers have similar duties when PPE is provided. | Train everyone and make reporting simple. |
What Employers Must Do in Practice
A suitable PPE risk assessment starts with the task. Identify the hazard, who may be harmed, how likely harm is, how serious the harm could be and what controls already exist. Then decide whether PPE is still needed. The assessment should cover normal work, cleaning, maintenance, emergencies, visitors, temporary staff and changes in weather, floor condition, substances or equipment.
PPE must be suitable for the hazard and the wearer. Suitability is not just a technical certificate. Employers should check size, fit, comfort, wear time, heat stress, mobility, visibility, gender, body shape, medical needs, disability, religious dress and compatibility with other PPE. A respirator that does not seal, safety glasses that mist up, gloves that increase entanglement risk, or footwear that does not fit properly can create new risks.
Where more than one PPE item is used, the items must work together. A hard hat should not stop ear defenders from sealing. Eye protection should not break the seal on respiratory protection. Protective footwear should match the floor, contamination, dropped-object risk and underfoot hazard. For footwear standards, read EN ISO 20345 explained and the S1, S1P, S2 and S3 safety shoe rating guide.
PPE must be maintained in efficient working order and good repair. That includes inspection, cleaning, drying, repair, replacement parts and withdrawal of damaged items. Cracked helmets, scratched lenses, torn gloves, worn soles, contaminated clothing and broken harnesses should not remain in use. Employers should also provide suitable storage, for example clean lockers, drying areas, sealed containers, labelled cupboards or vehicle storage for mobile workers.
Information, Instruction and Training
Workers need to understand why PPE is needed, when to wear it, how to put it on, how to adjust it, how to remove it safely, what it does not protect against, how to clean it, where to store it and how to report problems. Training should be practical, not just a signature on a form. Demonstrations, toolbox talks, fit checks, translated instructions and refresher training may be needed.
Supervisors must also know what correct use looks like. If workers regularly remove PPE because it is uncomfortable, hot, incompatible or slows the task down, that is not simply a discipline problem. It may show the PPE is unsuitable or that the risk control system needs review.
Records Employers Should Keep
The regulations do not mean every glove choice needs a long report, but sensible records help show that decisions were made properly. Useful records include risk assessments, PPE selection notes, compatibility checks, issue logs, training attendance, inspection sheets, cleaning schedules, defect reports, replacement dates, supplier information and review notes. Higher-risk work needs stronger evidence.
Practical Examples By Industry
Construction: A fit-out contractor may need safety footwear, eye protection, gloves, respiratory protection and head protection for cutting, drilling and fixing. A muddy outdoor site, roofing job, demolition project or heavy plant area may need higher-rated specialist PPE. Trainer-style S1P footwear may not be enough.
Warehousing and logistics: Pallets, cages, loading bays, straps and sharp debris may justify safety footwear and gloves. Forklift traffic needs segregation and safe routes, not just PPE. See the warehouse safety shoes guide for footwear-specific considerations.
Manufacturing: PPE may vary by line, for example eye protection for flying particles, hearing protection near machinery, gloves for handling, and footwear for dropped parts or sharp offcuts. Compatibility must be checked where several items are worn together.
Healthcare and laboratories: Gloves, eye protection, aprons, footwear and respiratory protection may be needed, but infection control, sharps, biological agents and chemical exposure must be assessed under the correct workplace procedures. PPE for a hospital porter is not the same as PPE for an operating theatre.
Maintenance, garages and light industrial work: Safety footwear, gloves and eye protection may be suitable for screws, oils, minor impact hazards and hard floors. If work moves outdoors, becomes wet, involves hot work or requires specialist chemical protection, the PPE decision must be reviewed.
Common PPE Mistakes
The biggest mistake is treating PPE as a substitute for better controls. Other common errors include charging workers for mandatory PPE, buying only on price, issuing one size for everyone, ignoring comfort, gender or medical needs, providing incompatible items, keeping damaged PPE in use, forgetting replacement stock and giving no meaningful training.
Footwear shows the problem clearly. HSE guidance notes there is no such thing as non-slip footwear, only slip-resistant footwear that can reduce slipping on certain floors. Safety footwear may reduce certain impact or penetration risks, but it cannot remove every hazard. Match the rating to the risk. For a rating guide, read S1, S1P, S2 and S3 safety shoe ratings.
UK PPE Compliance Checklist
Where XNEXZ Safety Trainers May Fit
XNEXZ safety trainers should be considered only where an employer's risk assessment confirms that trainer-style EN ISO 20345 S1P footwear is suitable. XNEXZ product information lists PulseX and StrideX as S1P safety trainers with a 200J aluminium toe cap, Kevlar puncture-resistant midsole, breathable mesh and microfiber upper, anti-static design, oil-resistant outsole and shock-absorbing heel. PulseX uses a PU outsole, while StrideX uses an EVA and rubber outsole.
That makes XNEXZ a possible option for suitable light-duty environments such as warehousing, logistics support, hospitality, healthcare support roles, indoor trades, facilities work and clean light industrial tasks, where S1P is accepted. It does not make an employer compliant by itself. Employers must still assess risk, confirm the rating, check fit and compatibility, train workers, inspect and replace worn footwear, and review changes. XNEXZ should not be presented as waterproof, fire-resistant, heavy-duty, completely slip-proof or suitable for every workplace.
For more detail, see what S1P safety shoe certification means, what a Kevlar midsole does in safety shoes, and the UK safety shoe buying checklist.
Review Footwear Against Your Risk Assessment
If your workplace accepts S1P safety trainers for light-duty work, check the current XNEXZ product specifications, confirm fit and suitability, and ask workers for honest feedback on comfort, grip, wear and daily performance.
