Construction PPE: What the 1992 Regulations Require on Site

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment or clothing worn to protect a person from a risk to their health or safety, such as a hard hat, safety boots, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection or a respirator. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, PPE is the last line of defence: it is to be used where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other, better means. This guide explains what the regulations require, how to think about choosing and using PPE, and what it cannot do.

Key takeaways

PPE is the last line of control. It is used for the risk that remains after better controls have been put in place.
PPE must be suitable for the risk, suitable for the wearer, and compatible with any other PPE worn at the same time.
Employers must provide PPE where it is required, and they must maintain it, store it properly, and give information, instruction and training on using it.
Workers must use PPE in line with their training and instructions, and must report loss or defects.
PPE does not remove a hazard. If it is the only control, it protects only the person wearing it and only if it is worn, fitted and maintained properly.
Anything unclear about what PPE you need should be raised with your supervisor, not guessed.

Where PPE fits in the order of controls

The PPE at Work Regulations 1992 can be read in full on Legislation.gov.uk. The central idea is that PPE should be provided where there remain risks to health and safety that have not been adequately controlled by other means. In other words, employers should deal with the hazard first, and use PPE for what is left.

That fits with the usual order of controls, which runs from removing the hazard, through substituting it for something safer, then using engineering controls such as guards, extraction or barriers, then organisational controls such as safe systems of work, and only then PPE. See the hierarchy of control explained for the full order. A short version is this: if you can remove the dust, the noise or the drop, that is better than giving everyone a mask, ear defenders or a harness.

PPE comes last for good reasons:

It protects only the person wearing it, not anyone else nearby.
It relies on the wearer to use it correctly every time.
It can be uncomfortable, which can lead people to take it off or wear it badly.
If it is worn out, damaged or the wrong type, it may fail without the wearer noticing.
It reduces the effect of the hazard but leaves the hazard in place.

PPE still matters. On many tasks, there is a remaining risk that nothing else can fully remove, and PPE is what stands between the worker and harm. Its position at the end of the order explains why it should never be used as an excuse to skip better controls.

What the regulations require

HSE's PPE guidance and the regulations themselves set out the duties in plain terms. The points below are a summary, so check the sources for exact wording.

Employers

Provide suitable PPE where needed. If a risk assessment shows a remaining risk that PPE can help with, suitable PPE must be provided. The PPE at Work Regulations 1992 regulation 3A applies section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which means PPE must be provided to workers without charge. Check the HSE page if you are unsure about your own position, especially if you work for yourself or on a mixed contract.
Choose it properly. It must be appropriate for the risks, take account of the conditions where it is used, fit the wearer, and be effective against the risk without creating a bigger one.
Check compatibility. Where more than one item is worn together, such as safety glasses and a respirator, the items must work together and not reduce each other's protection.
Assess before choosing. The choice should follow an assessment of the risks, not habit.
Maintain and replace. PPE must be kept clean and in good working order, repaired or replaced as needed.
Provide storage. There should be somewhere suitable to keep it when it is not in use.
Give information, instruction and training. Workers should know the risk the PPE protects against, how to use it, how to check it and how to report faults.
Make sure it is used. Reasonable steps must be taken to ensure PPE is used properly.

Workers

Use PPE in accordance with the training and instructions you have been given.
Take reasonable care of it, and return it to where it is stored after use.
Report any loss of or obvious defect in PPE to your employer or supervisor.

If you have been given PPE that does not fit, is damaged, or does not seem right for the task, say so. Making do is not a safe alternative.

Types of PPE you will meet on site

The exact PPE depends on the task, the site rules and the risk assessment, so the list below is a guide to the common types and what each is for.

Type	Protects against	Things to remember
Head protection	Falling objects and bumps	Check for cracks and damage, and replace if damaged
Eye and face protection	Dust, flying particles, splashes, sparks	Choose the type for the hazard, and keep lenses clean
Hearing protection	Noise	Must be worn properly and consistently to work
Respiratory protective equipment	Dust, fumes, vapours	The right type for the substance, and tight-fitting types need to be suited to the wearer's face
Hand protection	Cuts, chemicals, heat, vibration	Gloves differ widely, so use ones suited to the task
Foot protection	Falling objects, nails, slips	Check for wear, and keep soles in good condition
High-visibility clothing	Being struck by vehicles or plant	Must be visible, clean and in good condition
Harnesses and fall-arrest equipment	Falls from height	Must be inspected and used with suitable anchorage and training

Two points often tested: some PPE, such as tight-fitting respirators, needs to be matched to the individual wearer, and some PPE, such as fall-arrest equipment, needs specific training and checks. Equipment is expected to carry the correct marking to show it meets the relevant standard. If the marking is missing or you are not sure, ask before using it.

Using and looking after PPE

Good habits make PPE work.

Check your PPE before each use for damage, wear or contamination.
Put it on correctly, and adjust it to fit. A hard hat that falls off, a loose mask or gloves that are too large do not give the protection intended.
Do not modify it, for example by drilling a hard hat or taping over a defect.
Clean and store it as the instructions say, away from chemicals, sunlight and damage.
Replace it when it is damaged, past its replacement date where one applies, or after any event the manufacturer says calls for replacement.
Do not share PPE that is meant for a single user, such as respirators, unless it is cleaned and suitable.
Wear it for the whole task, including short jobs, because many injuries happen during the quick one.

Your site rules and your induction will tell you what PPE is required in different areas, so listen to that briefing as well.

Common mistakes

Treating PPE as the first answer. It should follow better controls, not replace them.
Wearing the wrong type. A dust mask is not protection against every vapour or fume.
Wearing it loosely or partly, or using damaged equipment. Half-worn or damaged PPE provides little protection.
Forgetting that it can create new risks. For example, ear defenders can stop you hearing alarms or moving plant, so site rules must account for it.
Assuming PPE is all that is needed. If the task involves a hazard that has not been controlled any other way, raise it.

Practice check

These are original questions for revision. They are not official CITB questions and a score here is not an official result. This site is independent and is not affiliated with CSCS or CITB.

Question 1. A task creates a lot of dust. Which approach follows the right order of controls?

A. Hand out dust masks and carry on as normal
B. Reduce the dust at source with suitable extraction or water suppression, and use PPE for what remains
C. Ask workers to work faster to cut exposure
D. Do nothing, because masks are always provided

Answer: B. Better controls come before PPE. PPE protects against the risk that remains.

Question 2. You notice a crack in your hard hat before starting work. What should you do?

A. Wear it anyway until the end of the shift
B. Tape over the crack
C. Report it and replace it before starting work
D. Swap it with a colleague's without telling anyone

Answer: C. Damaged PPE may not protect you. Workers should report defects and employers should replace the equipment.

For more practice, try the free practice questions and the operatives test format page. For a shorter overview, see PPE explained.

FAQ

What are the PPE at Work Regulations 1992?

They are regulations that set duties for employers and workers about PPE. In summary, employers must provide suitable PPE where risks are not adequately controlled by other means, and workers must use it properly. You can read the text on Legislation.gov.uk.

Who pays for PPE on a construction site?

The PPE at Work Regulations 1992 regulation 3A applies section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which means PPE must be provided to workers without charge. Arrangements for self-employed people and agency workers can differ, so check the HSE PPE page and your contract.

Is PPE the best way to control a risk?

No. PPE is the last line of control, used for the risk that remains after better controls have been applied. It protects only the wearer, relies on correct use and can fail without warning.

What should I do if my PPE is damaged or does not fit?

Stop using it, report it to your supervisor and get it repaired or replaced. Do not carry on with damaged or ill-fitting equipment, because it may not protect you.

Sources

Independent guide, not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Last updated 2026-10-08.