The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations impose health and safety requirements with respect to the provision for, and use by, persons at work of personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is defined in regulation 2(1) and certain types of such equipment are excluded from the application of regulations 4 to 12 by regulation 3(2).

2.  The Regulations do not apply in relation to sea transport (regulation 3(1)). With that exception, the Regulations, together with the existing Regulations listed in regulation 3(3) (which are modified by Parts V to X of Schedule 2), give effect as respects Great Britain to Council Directive 89/656/EEC (OJ No. L 393, 30.12.89, p. 18) on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace.

3.  Regulations 4 and 6 to 12 do not apply in respect of risks to health and safety for which personal protective equipment is required by specified existing Regulations (regulation 3(3)).

4.  The Regulations require employers to ensure suitable personal protective equip ment is provided for their employees and also require self-employed persons to ensure suitable personal protective equipment is provided for themselves. The circumstances in which personal protective equipment must be provided and minimum conditions of what is “suitable” are specified (regulation 4).

5.  The Regulations also impose requirements with respect to—

(a) compatibility of items of personal protective equipment where it is necessary to wear or use more than one item simultaneously (regulation 5);

(b) the making, review and changing of assessments in relation to the choice of personal protective equipment (regulation 6);

(c) the maintenance (including replacement and cleaning as appropriate) of personal protective equipment (regulation 7);

(d) the provision of accommodation for personal protective equipment (regulation 8);

(e) the provision of information, instruction and training (regulation 9); and

(f) ensuring personal protective equipment is used (regulation 10(1)).

6.  Requirements are imposed on employees and self-employed persons in respect of the use of personal protective equipment and in respect of returning it to accommodation provided for it (regulation 10(2) to (4)). Employees are also required to report to their employer the loss of or any obvious defect in personal protective equipment (regulation 11).

7.  The Secretary of State for Defence may grant exemptions from the Regulations in the interests of national security (regulation 12).

8.  The Regulations extend to and in relation to certain premises and activities outside Great Britain (regulation 13).

9.  Certain existing provisions relating to personal protective equipment are modified (Schedule 2). Provisions replaced by these Regulations are repealed or revoked (regulation 14(2) and Schedule 3).