Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Workers in many roles may require special protective equipment at work. Employers are legally obliged to provide their employees with such equipment if needed.

If you are self-employed and your work exposes you to a health and safety risk, you are also required to use protective equipment.

Personal protective equipment covers a wide range of items, from high-visibility clothing for roadside workers to steel toe-capped boots for tree fellers.

This guide helps you decide whether your business needs personal protective equipment. It outlines various types of personal protective equipment, including headgear, eyewear, footwear and clothing. This guide also explains how to maintain this equipment and highlights exemptions to the rules.