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E115:05 30 August 2005
HSE publishes revised Personal
Protective Equipment guidance
A revised version of guidance designed to help employers
who supply and use personal protective equipment (PPE) at work meet their
duties under the law has been published by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE).
The guidance, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992
(L25), which was first published in 1992, has now been updated to reflect
changes to the Regulations, developments in PPE and to clarify guidance queries
commonly received by HSE.
The Regulations require PPE; for example, safety helmets, gloves, eye protection
and high-visibility clothing, to be supplied and used at work wherever there
are risks to workers’ health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled
in other ways.
The Regulations require PPE to be:
properly assessed before use to ensure its suitability for the work being
done;
maintained and stored properly;
provided with adequate instruction on how to use it safely; and worn correctly
by the user.
The first section of the booklet sets out the Regulations, followed by information
on how to comply with their requirements. The second part provides details
on the different types of PPE available, the types of hazards that may require
PPE to be worn, followed by advice on its correct selection, use and maintenance.
This section now also features information on the selection and safe use
of Personal Fall protection equipment when working at heights.
HSE has also reissued A Short Guide to the Personal Protective Equipment
at Work Regulations, a free leaflet aimed at providing employers with a brief
summary of the law’s main requirements. In particular, the guide includes
a short synopsis of common workplace hazards and types of PPE that can be
used to prevent workers’ exposure. The leaflet also provides tips on ensuring
PPE is adequately maintained and workers are provided with sufficient training
so that it is properly used.
Copies of Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended)
, ISBN 0 7176 6139 3 , price £8.95, are available from HSE Books,
PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995.
Priced publications are also available from good booksellers.
Copies of A Short Guide to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations,
INDG174, are available from HSE Books. Alternatively the booklet can be downloaded
from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg174.pdf
Notes to Editors
1. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 is based on
European Council (EC) Directive 89/656/EEC requiring similar basic laws throughout
the European Union on the use of PPE in the workplace.
2. The Regulations came into force on 1 January 1993. They have subsequently
been amended by the Police (Health and Safety) Regulations 1999 SI 1999/860,
the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 SI 1999/3232 and the Health and
Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 SI 2002/2174.
3. The Regulations do not apply to hearing protection and to respiratory
protective equipment for most work activities, as these are covered by other
regulations. Full guidance on these including selection, use and maintenance
are included in the publications L108 Reducing noise at work: Guidance on
the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and HSG53 Respiratory protective equipment
at work: A practical guide. Both of these publications are available from
HSE Books http://www.hsebooks.co.uk/.
4. These regulations should not be confused with the Personal Protective
Equipment Regulations 2002, which deal with the design, manufacture and supply
of PPE. Further information on these regulations is available on the DTI
website (www.dti.gov.uk/).
Public Enquiries : HSE InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/contact
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
Press Enquiries : Journalists only : Oliver Glackin 020 7717 6016
