The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 came into force on 1st January 1993. They set out the requirements for equipment intended to protect the wearer from health and safety risks.
The regulations define personal protective equipment (PPE) as ‘…all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective.’
Employers are required to provide PPE for employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety except where that risk has been adequately controlled by other means. Self-employed people are required to provide themselves with PPE.
PPE shall:
- Be appropriate for the risks involved and the conditions where exposure to the risk may occur.
- Take account of ergonomic requirements and the state of health of the person or persons who may wear it.
- Be capable of fitting the wearer correctly.
- Be effective to prevent or adequately control the risk.
- Comply with statutory requirements on design or manufacture.
- Be compatible with other PPE.
The regulations that require PPE is assessed before use and maintained and stored properly and that wearers are provided with instructions on safe and correct use.
Employees are required to report to their employer any loss of or obvious defect in personal protective equipment.
The contents of the regulations are:
- Introductory Text
- Citation and commencement
- Disapplication of these Regulations
- Provision of personal protective equipment
- Compatibility of personal protective equipment
- Assessment of personal protective equipment
- Maintenance and replacement of personal protective equipment
- Accommodation for personal protective equipment
- Information, instruction and training
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Reporting loss or defect
- Exemption certificates
- Extension outside Great Britain
- Modifications, repeal and revocations directive
- Schedule 1: Relevant Community
- Schedule 2: Modifications
- Schedule 3: Revocations
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Asbestos.
- Building regulations.
- CDM.
- Cold stress.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
- Crane regulations.
- Environmental health.
- Fee for intervention.
- Getting personal about protective equipment.
- Health and safety.
- Health and safety consultant.
- Health and Safety Executive.
- Health and safety file.
- Health and safety inspector.
- Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences definitive guideline.
- Health and safety policy.
- Hi-vis clothing.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
- Method statement.
- Non-freezing cold injury NFCI.
- Notification to HSE.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Pre-construction information.
- Principal contractor.
- Purchasing personal protective equipment.
- Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
- Work at height regulations.
Featured articles and news
Construction contract awards hit lowest point of 2025
Plummeting for second consecutive month, intensifying concerns for housing and infrastructure goals.
Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025
Examining the state of mental health in construction, shedding light on levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
The benefits of engaging with insulation manufacturers
When considering ground floor constructions.
Lighting Industry endorses Blueprint for Electrification
The Lighting Industry Association fully supports the ECA Blueprint as a timely, urgent call to action.
BSRIA Sentinel Clerk of Works Training Case Study
Strengthening expertise to enhance service delivery with integrated cutting-edge industry knowledge.
Impact report from the Supply Chain Sustainability School
Free sustainability skills, training and support delivered to thousands of UK companies to help cut carbon.
The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
With speakers confirmed for 24 June as part of Building Safety Week.
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.
Architects, architecture, buildings, and inspiration in film
The close ties between makers and the movies, with our long list of suggested viewing.
SELECT three-point plan for action issued to MSPs
Call for Scottish regulation, green skills and recognition of electrotechnical industry as part of a manifesto for Scottish Parliamentary elections.
UCEM becomes the University of the Built Environment
Major milestone in its 106-year history, follows recent merger with London School of Architecture (LSE).
Professional practical experience for Architects in training
The long process to transform the nature of education and professional practical experience in the Architecture profession following recent reports.