WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 5.7
7. Can my employer charge me for personal protective equipment such as safety
shoes?
• The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 say that where there is a risk of injury or ill
health to a worker that cannot be reduced or removed,your employer must provide personal
protective equipment(PPE)free of charge.
• PPE includes most protective clothing and equipment e.g.hard hats,safety spectacles and face
masks.
PPE is the least effective form of protection from hazards at work.It only protects the worker from the
risk of injury,rather than removing or controlling the hazard at source.It should always be used as a
last resort.The 1992 Regulations state that the type of PPE required should be determined by risk
assessment.It is vital to involve and consult the workforce when selecting equipment.
All PPE should be CE marked.CE equipment conforms to the standards required under the 1992
Regulations.
Under the Regulations your employer must also:
• Maintain,clean and replace PPE where necessary.
• Provide storage for PPE when it is not being used.
• Ensure that PPE is properly used.
• Ensure that training,information and instruction on using PPE is given to employees.
Ordinary work clothes,uniforms and work clothing not worn to protect the worker,are not PPE.So it is
lawful for a contract of employment to allow the employer to charge for such clothes,or to insist on the
worker providing them at his/her own cost.It is important to negotiate suitable terms and conditions
to prevent this happening(a worker can pay extra for PPE if he or she decides to upgrade the PPE for
reasons of personal comfort).
REMEMBER: there may be more than one person affected by this issue.
Consider calling a meeting to advise,recruit and organise.