TUC survey reveals workers forced to pay for PPE

A TUC survey published in July 2012 reveals that more than one in five workers are being forced to pay for PPE out of their own pocket. In total more than one in five (20%) of respondents to the survey said that they had to pay for providing or replacing all or some of the equipment they needed for their work.

Women workers were even less likely than men to have their safety equipment provided, with more than 15% having to provide all or some of their own PPE, usually foot protection or overalls — compared to 10.5% of men.

Even where the employer provided PPE, the survey found that the worker usually had to clean the equipment themselves or pay for it to be cleaned. Of those whose equipment needed cleaning, more than three in five (60%) claimed that their employer made no arrangements for providing, or paying the cost of, cleaning.

It is illegal for an employer to charge for any safety equipment. The law also says that every employer has to ensure that any PPE provided to their employees is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.