Using personal protective equipment (PPE) to control risks at work

All employers must provide PPE free of charge if a risk assessment shows it is needed. 

To stay safe, workers may have to wear PPE such as safety helmets, gloves, eye or hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and harnesses.

PPE also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to prevent workers breathing in dust, mist, gas or fume.

You can find out more detail in our step guide Using personal protective equipment (PPE) to control risks at work. It includes guidance on:

• when to use PPE
• what the law says
• managing risk using PPE

HSE's website also has a downloadable copy of our publication: Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended): Guidance on Regulations.

Plastic manufacturing company fined after death of worker

The worker was drawn into rotating machinery and suffered fatal head injuries.

The company was fined £330,000 following an investigation by HSE.

The investigation found the plastic manufacturing company:

• failed to provide suitable health and safety training regarding the use of emery cloth on lathes
• did not have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for use of alternative methods, such as application of emery cloth using a stick

Read more in our press release: plastic manufacturing company fined after death of worker.

You can visit our news centre for more on recent enforcement cases, which include:

• company and contractor sentenced as failures led to evacuation in village

Fundamental review of building regulations guidance

HSE, as the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), is set to undertake a fundamental review of how building regulations guidance is produced, updated and communicated to the construction industry.

Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner announced the review of guidance to the building regulations known as the Approved Documents during last week’s Commons debate on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report.

Approved Documents provide detailed guidance for builders, architects and other professionals on how to meet functional requirements of building regulations. However, concerns have previously been raised about them being overly complex and difficult to use.

This review is a vital step toward:

• simplifying guidance
• making compliance easier
• improving safety and quality in construction

Find out more about the review of building regulations guidance

Managing drug and alcohol misuse in your workplace

Ensure you know how to manage drug and alcohol misuse at work.

As an employer, you have a legal duty to protect workers' health, safety and welfare.

Understanding the signs of drug and alcohol misuse (or abuse) will help you manage health and safety risk in your workplace.

Our website has step-by-step guidance on managing drug and alcohol misuse at work. This includes:

• advice on how to develop a drugs and alcohol policy
• what you can do to support your workers with a drug or alcohol problem
• clarification on the law when it comes to managing drug and alcohol misuse at work

The storage of flammable liquids in containers

This guidance is for those responsible for the safe storage of flammable liquids in containers at the workplace. It explains the fire and explosion hazards associated with flammable liquids and will help you determine how to control the risks in your workplace.

You can download a free copy: The storage of flammable liquids in containers (HSG51).