Revised PPE guide
October 1st 2005

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.

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 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 instructions on how to use it safely; and worn correctly by the user.

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 ‘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

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