Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022)

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) aim to ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is properly selected, used, and maintained in workplaces where risks to health and safety cannot be adequately controlled by other means. The regulations place duties on employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge to employees, assess the risks for which PPE is required, ensure PPE is compatible, properly maintained and stored, and provide adequate information, instruction, and training on its use. While the regulations themselves don't explicitly mandate specific signage, they create an indirect requirement. Employers must use appropriate signage to indicate areas where PPE is mandatory and to reinforce training on its correct use. This signage is crucial for communicating PPE requirements to employees and visitors, contributing to a safer working environment. Failure to provide or enforce the use of appropriate PPE, including inadequate signage highlighting PPE zones, can lead to enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The 2022 amendment primarily addresses the issue of employers recovering costs from workers for PPE. The regulations work in conjunction with other health and safety legislation, such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, to create a comprehensive framework for risk management in the workplace.