On 6 April 2022 the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER 2022) came into force, amending the 1992 Regulations (PPER 1992). They extend employers’ and employees’ duties regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) to limb (b) workers.

PPE is defined in the PPER 1992 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 the person against one or more risks to that person’s health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective”.

As announced earlier in the year in this briefing, if PPE is required, employers must ensure their workers have sufficient information, instruction and training on the use of PPE. PPER 1992 places a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that suitable PPE is provided to ‘employees’ who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.

PPER 2022 now extends this duty to limb (b) workers, defined as workers who generally have a more casual employment relationship and work under a contract for service.

Employers need to carefully consider whether the changes to UK law apply to them and their workforce and make the necessary preparations to comply.

These changes do not apply to those who have ‘self-employed’ status.