Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022


The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 ensures that all workers exposed to workplace health and safety risks receive adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), free of charge. This update to the already existing PPE regulations came in 2022 to extend duties to limb (b) workers – individuals with more casual employment arrangements (such as agency, gig, or freelance workers).

What are the Employer's Responsibilities?

  • Assess Workplace Risks - Employers must carry out a thorough risk assessment to identify where PPE is required. This includes identifying hazards such as chemical exposure, dust, sharp objects, biological agents, noise, or falling debris.
  • Provide PPE at No Cost - Employers are legally required to provide employees with all the necessary PPE free of charge. These include Disposable respirators, hard hats, high-vis vests, hearing protection, and any other equipment that is required.
  • Ensure PPE is Suitable for the task and the individual - The PPE that is supplied must be appropriate for both the hazard and the wearer. They must fit correctly, be compatible with other PPE, must carry the UKCA or CE mark, and Considerations must be made for comfort, mobility, gender differences, and religious or cultural clothing.
  • Maintain, Clean, and Store PPE - PPE must be kept in good working condition, clean, and ready to use. Regular inspections of the equipment should be conducted to check for damage, wear, or expiry. For complex PPE like powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), scheduled maintenance and servicing should be performed.

How does this law apply to my workplace?

This law will mean that you will require the correct PPE, depending on the environment you work in and if the equipment can protect you from the dangers or risks present.

In a manufacturing setting, the correct PPE might include face shields and hearing protection depending on the noise and process involved.

Healthcare environments will mainly require protection against infectious diseases or biohazards, so FFP2/FFP3 masks, face shields, and gowns will be used.

Construction site will require use of hard hats, safety harnesses, gloves, and respiratory protection on dusty or hazardous sites.

What are the employees’ responsibilities?

Employees also have legal duties under the regulations, which means they must wear and use the PPE as instructed. This includes following guidance provided during training, wearing the correct PPE for each specific task, and not improvising or using non-approved items in place of designated PPE.

Employees must also:

  • Take reasonable care of PPE by storing them in the designated area when not in use, avoiding contamination, and cleaning reusable items after use if instructed.
  • Report any damage, loss, or defect immediately. This can include a cracked safety visor, blocked filter in a reusable mask, or loose-fitting ear defenders.
  • Not misuse or modify PPE in any way. PPE should not be shared with others, unless it is equipment that is intended to be shared and properly cleaned between uses.
The 2022 regulations are an update to existing PPE laws that now require employers to provide suitable and adequate PPE not only to employees but also to limb (b) workers such as agency staff, gig economy workers, and some freelancers. It ensures all workers are protected from workplace risks at no cost to them.
Under the law, employers are fully responsible for providing PPE free of charge to all workers who may be exposed to health and safety risks, including temporary and part-time staff.
A limb (b) worker is someone who performs work personally for an organisation but is not formally employed. Examples include agency workers, gig economy drivers, or self-employed contractors under direct supervision. These individuals are now entitled to PPE under the 2022 regulations.
No. The regulations make it clear that all necessary PPE must be provided free of charge by the employer. Workers should never be asked to pay for, source, or replace their own PPE.
It must be reported immediately, and the employer is required to repair or replace the PPE. Ill-fitting or defective PPE is considered non-compliant and must not be used.