PPE At Work Regulations Extended
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) at Work Regulations have been extended to include all employees rather than just those with a contract of employment.
As a result of the new rules, which came into force on 6 April 2022, those previously unprotected at work are now protected. It also means that employers are potentially liable for injuries suffered at work if the correct PPE was not provided when it should have been.
What Exactly Are The New PPE At Work Regulations?
The new extension to the rules means all employees are covered by the PPE regulations now, even those working on a casual basis. Before the new rules came info force, only those with a contract of employment with their employer were protected. As a guide, the following employees are protected by the extended PPE at Work Regulations:- Those not in receipt of full employment rights
- Those who work as and when they want to
- Those not in business for themselves
- Those contracted to carry out work with limited opportunities to swap shifts
- Those carrying out work on behalf of organisations on a casual basis
What Do The New PPE At Work Regulations Mean For You?
As a result of the regulations extension from April 2022, your employer is now legally obliged to provide you with PPE that protects you in the workplace. Likewise, if you are an employer, you now have a legal duty to provide PPE for everyone you employ. It is illegal for your employer to make or encourage you to buy your own PPE if the equipment is needed to enable you to carry out your daily tasks safely. The equipment provided needs to be of a high standard too, and fit for purpose – it must provide the necessary protection for your day-to-day work. Employers are also legally obliged to provide training for employees on how to use the PPE, to make sure they are fully protected in the workplace. A lack of PPE, training or providing inadequate PPE can lead to accidents and injuries at work, and to claims being made for personal injury compensation.Have You Been Injured Because Of No Or Inadequate PPE?
If you’ve been hurt because of a lack of PPE provided by your employer or inadequate PPE being provided, then you may be able to make a claim against your employer for compensation. If you think you can make a claim, make sure you gather as much information about your accident as possible, to support your case. Details to gather include:- Details of your injuries
- Details of your accident
- Photos of where it happened
- Details of any witnesses
- Copies of emails with your employer about PPE
- Details of the PPE provided
- Details of any historic PPE-related claims made against your employer
