Legislative Changes in 2022: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
In our series of Legislation Changes in 2022 blogs by our Kickstart Marketing Assistant, Joanna, we’ll look at how legislative changes planned for this year could impact your business. Whilst many of us may be hoping for “business as usual” at some point this year, we also need to consider the legislative changes planned for 2022 and where you may need to make changes to how you conduct your business.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Do you provide subcontractors or agency workers (limb (b) workers) with Personal Protective Equipment?
As we all know, COVID-19 has completely changed the world, work, and leisure. The pandemic affected non-essential workers as much as it did essential workers, even those who were subcontracted or hired through an agency.
Before 2022, it was not a legal requirement for companies to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to subcontractors or agency workers. However, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain highlighted COVID-19’s impact on ‘gig economy’ workers, such as parcel couriers, which led to this change in legislation.
From 6th April 2022, the amendment for Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 (PPER 2022) comes into force. This extends this duty also to limb (b) workers, who currently do not come under the scope of PPER 1992.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 place a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that applicable PPE is provided to workers who may be exposed to a risk to their health and safety while at work.
If PPE is required, employers must ensure their workers have the correct training, information, and instruction on the use of that PPE.
A limb (b) worker will have a duty to use the PPE in accordance with their training and instruction and ensure it is returned to the storage area provided by the company of whom they are subcontracting.
Guidance for Employers
The HSE has prepared interim guidance to help employers identify whether they and their workforce may be impacted by the changes. It also explains what employers may need to do to prepare.
For more guidance on Personal Protective Equipment, visit NIG Risk Assist.
Take a look at our other blogs in the series about:
