WHO HAS TO WEAR PPE?
 

 
 
The laws are quite complex
in this area because we now have a patchwork of legislation, so many people will find that they have to comply with parts of the old risk-related, or industry specific, regulations (such as those for head protection on construction sites) and parts of the PPE Regulations.
To decide who has to wear PPE it is essential that you first carry out a hazard and risk assessment.

A hazard is a danger to health or safety, and a risk is the likelihood of a hazard occurring (see next section).

Your assessment will identify who has to wear PPE and when, but as a general rule:

If you are at a workplace where your health and safety are at risk you should be wearing suitable protective clothing and equipment (unless those risks can be reduced to an acceptable level by other measures) - whether you are an employee, self-employed, voluntary worker or even a visitor.

Risk should be assesSed at:
Low - (there has been no evidence of it occurring in the past and there is no foreseeable possibility of it happening in the future)
MEDIUM - (there has been some evidence of it occurring in the past and it could well happen in reasonable circumstances in the future)
HIGH - (it is almost bound to happen)
Employees working in situations where they are exposed to a hazard they would not normally encounter must also be provided with additional
suitable PPE while they carry out the task.

For example...
...an electrician making wiring repairs in a hazardous area within a foundry must be issued with suitable
protective wear.