Health & Safety FAQ

Protective Clothing

Can I charge my employees for safety boots and other personal protective equipment I want them to wear?

No. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 require employers to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided to employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work, and where such risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

Employers should also provide employees with training in its use and make such equipment readily available or provide clear instructions on where it can be obtained. By virtue of the specific requirement to provide such equipment, Section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is applicable and, as such, no charge can be made to the worker for the provision of PPE which they are required to wear and which is used only at work.