Employers’ Responsibilities for Personal Protective Equipment

Employers in the UK have a legal duty to protect their workers from health and safety risks at work, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a vital part of this responsibility. PPE includes items such as helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, and respiratory protection designed to safeguard employees from workplace hazards.

Accidents in the workplace are a common occurrence, and many of these accidents could have been avoided by employers proving the necessary PPE to minimise the risk of an accident at work from taking place.

If it can be established that someone else is responsible for your injury, such as your employer, then you may be entitled to make a claim. Beacon Law has a team of experienced employment injury lawyers who can assist you in making your injury at work claim for compensation.

If you have suffered an accident at work, claim the compensation you deserve today.

Employers’ Responsibilities for Personal Protective Equipment

In the UK, employers have clear legal responsibilities regarding the provision and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure the health and safety of their employees. These obligations are primarily governed by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended in April 2022), along with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Employers must meet the following key responsibilities:

Risk assessment: Employers must assess the working environment for potential risks that could harm workers’ health and safety. PPE should be provided where risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently controlled by other means. A thorough risk assessment helps identify the specific PPE required for different tasks and environments.

Provision of suitable PPE: Employers are required to provide employees with PPE that is:

• Suitable for the task: It must be appropriate to the level of risk involved in a particular job. For example, employees who may be exposed to high levels of noise must be provided with hearing protection.
• Fit for purpose: PPE must be in good condition and capable of offering the required protection.
• Free of charge: Employers must provide PPE at no cost to employees.
• Considerate of comfort and usability: The PPE should not cause additional risks, and workers must be able to wear it without hindering their work.

Maintenance and replacement: Employers must ensure that PPE is properly maintained and kept in good working order. Regular checks should be made, and worn or damaged items must be replaced promptly. PPE should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to ensure it remains effective and safe.

Training and information: Employers must ensure that employers and employees are properly trained in the use of PPE. This includes:

• How to use it correctly.
• When to wear PPE.
• How to maintain and clean it.
• The importance of using PPE to prevent injuries and illnesses.

Workers must also be informed of the specific risks they face and how PPE mitigates those risks.

Ensuring proper use: Employers must take reasonable steps to ensure that PPE is worn and used correctly at all times when required. This might include supervision, providing reminders, and offering incentives or enforcement measures to encourage compliance.

No Win, No Fee workplace injury claims

We offer all claims on a no win, no fee basis. These claims allow accident at work solicitors to proceed with your claim with no up-front legal costs to be paid. Throughout the accident at work compensation claim process, there will be no hidden charges or payments required from the injured person.

If your claim is successful, you will only be required to pay a small amount from your final damages to your work injury lawyer. These costs will be calculated as a percentage and will be discussed with you before legal proceedings start. This payment is to compensate employment injury lawyers for their time and work put into assisting with your case.

You may also be required to pay a small fee for ATE insurance from your compensation award if your case is successful. This will all be explained to you by your employment injury lawyer before you agree to start your workplace injury claim.

If your case is unsuccessful, unfortunately, you will not receive any compensation; however, you will not be required to pay us anything.

How can Beacon Law assist?

Beacon Law is a law firm of specialist personal injury solicitors. We have helped many of our clients obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries sustained as a result of accidents at work. We also assist with other work accident claims such as forklift accidents, slips, trips and falls, and defective equipment.

If you have been injured in an accident at work and have been left wondering, “what are employers’ responsibilities for personal protective equipment?”, can request an initial consultation by completing the online help form. Alternatively, you can call us on 0330 1332 857, and we will be happy to assist you with your query.

Beacon Law are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee basis, have a look at the funding section on our website.