Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

1993 No. 20

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993

Made

19th January 1993

Coming into operation

22nd February 1993

The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Economic Development and the Department of the Environment acting jointly as the Department concerned(1), in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 17(1) (2), (3) and (5) of, and paragraphs 10 and 13 of Schedule 3 to, the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978(2) and of every other power enabling them in that behalf after consultation in accordance with Article 46(1) of that Order, with the Health and Safety Agency for Northern Ireland and such other bodies as appeared to them to be appropriate, hereby make the following Regulations:—

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 and shall come into operation on 22nd February 1993.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

“personal protective equipment” means all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective;

“offensive weapon” means any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him.

Disapplication of these Regulations

3.  —

(1) These Regulations shall not apply to or in relation to the master or crew of a sea-going ship or to the employer of such persons in respect of the normal ship-board activities of a ship’s crew under the direction of the master.

(2) Regulations 4 to 12 shall not apply in respect of any of the following personal protective equipment, that is to say—

(a) ordinary working clothes and uniforms which do not specifically protect the health and safety of the wearer;

(b) an offensive weapon used for self-defence or deterrent equipment;

(c) portable devices for detecting and signalling risks and nuisances;

(d) personal protective equipment used for protection while travelling on a road within the meaning of Article 2(2) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(3);

(e) equipment used during the playing of competitive sports.

(3) Regulations 4 and 6 to 12 shall not apply where any of the following Regulations apply and in respect of any risk to a person’s health or safety for which any of them require the provision or use of personal protective equipment, namely—

(a) the Ionising Radiations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985(4);

(b) the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986(5);

(c) the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988(6);

(d) the Noise at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(7);

(e) the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(8);

(f) the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(9).

Provision of personal protective equipment

4.  —

(1) Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.

(2) Every self-employed person shall ensure that he is provided with suitable personal protective equipment where he may be exposed to a risk to his health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (1) and (2), personal protective equipment shall not be suitable unless—

(a) it is appropriate for the risk or risks involved and the conditions at the place where exposure to such risk or risks may occur;

(b) it takes account of ergonomic requirements and the state of health of the person or persons who may wear it;

(c) it is capable of fitting the wearer correctly, if necessary after adjustments within the range for which it is designed;

(d) so far as is practicable, it is effective to prevent or adequately control the risk or risks involved without increasing overall risk; and

(e) it complies with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health or safety in any relevant Community Directive listed in Schedule 1 which is applicable to that item of personal protective equipment.

Compatibility of personal protective equipment

5.  —

(1) Every employer shall ensure that where the presence of more than one risk to health or safety makes it necessary for his employee to wear or use simultaneously more than one item of personal protective equipment, such equipment is compatible and continues to be effective against the risk or risks in question.

(2) Every self-employed person shall ensure that where the presence of more than one risk to health or safety makes it necessary for him to wear or use simultaneously more than one item of personal protective equipment, such equipment is compatible and continues to be effective against the risk or risks in question.

Assessment of personal protective equipment

6.  —

(1) Before choosing any personal protective equipment which by virtue of regulation 4 he is required to ensure is provided, an employer or self-employed person shall ensure that an assessment is made to determine whether that equipment will be suitable.

(2) The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include—

(a) an assessment of any risk or risks to health or safety which have not been avoided by other means;

(b) the definition of the characteristics which personal protective equipment must have in order to be effective against the risks referred to in sub-paragraph (a), taking into account any risks which the equipment itself may create; and

(c) a comparison of the characteristics of the personal protective equipment available with the characteristics referred to in sub-paragraph (b).

(3) Every employer or self-employed person who is required by paragraph (1) to ensure that an assessment is made shall ensure that any such assessment is reviewed if—

(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or

(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates,

and where as a result of any such review changes in the assessment are required, the relevant employer or self-employed person shall ensure that they are made.

Maintenance and replacement of personal protective equipment

7.  —

(1) Every employer shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to his employees is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

(2) Every self-employed person shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to him is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

Accommodation for personal protective equipment

8.  Where an employer or self-employed person is required, by virtue of regulation 4, to ensure that personal protective equipment is provided, he shall also ensure that appropriate accommodation is provided for that personal protective equipment when it is not being used.

Information, instruction and training

9.  —

(1) Where an employer is required to ensure that personal protective equipment is provided to an employee, the employer shall also ensure that the employee is provided with such information, instruction and training as is adequate and appropriate to enable the employee to know—

(a) the risk or risks which the personal protective equipment will avoid or limit;

(b) the purpose for which and the manner in which personal protective equipment is to be used; and

(c) any action to be taken by the employee to ensure that the personal protective equipment remains in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair as required by regulation 7(1).

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the information and instruction provided by virtue of that paragraph shall not be adequate and appropriate unless it is comprehensible to the persons to whom it is provided.

Use of personal protective equipment

10.  —

(1) Every employer shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to his employees by virtue of regulation 4(1) is properly used.

(2) Every employee shall use any personal protective equipment provided to him by virtue of these Regulations in accordance both with any training in the use of the personal protective equipment concerned which has been received by him and the instructions respecting that use which have been provided to him by virtue of regulation 9.

(3) Every self-employed person shall make full and proper use of any personal protective equipment provided to him by virtue of regulation 4(2).

(4) Every employee and self-employed person who has been provided with personal protective equipment by virtue of regulation 4 shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is returned after use to the accommodation provided for it.

Reporting loss or defect

11.  Every employee who has been provided with personal protective equipment by virtue of regulation 4(1) shall forthwith report to his employer any loss of or obvious defect in that personal protective equipment.

Exemption certificates

12.  —

(1) The Secretary of State for Defence may, in the interests of national security, by a certificate in writing exempt—

(a) any of the home forces, any visiting force or any headquarters from those requirements of these Regulations which impose obligations on employers; or

(b) any member of the home forces, any member of a visiting force or any member of a headquarters from the requirements imposed by regulation 10 or 11;

and any exemption such as is specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) may be granted subject to conditions and to a limit of time and may be revoked by the said Secretary of State by a further certificate in writing at any time.

(2) In this regulation—

(a) “the home forces” has the same meaning as in section 12(1) of the Visiting Forces Act 1952(10);

(b) “headquarters” has the same meaning as in Article 3(2) of the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1965(11);

(c) “member of a headquarters” has the same meaning as in paragraph 1(1) of the Schedule to the International Headquarters and Defence Organisations Act 1964(12); and

(d) “visiting force” has the same meaning as it does for the purposes of any provision of Part I of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

Modifications, repeal and revocations

13.  —

(1) The Act and Regulations specified in Schedule 2 shall be modified to the extent specified in the corresponding Part of that Schedule.

(2) Section 64 of the Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965(13) is hereby repealed.

(3) The instruments specified in column 1 of Schedule 3 are revoked to the extent specified in column 3.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture on

L.S.

I. C. Henderson

Assistant Secretary

19th January 1993.

Sealed with the Official seal of the Department of Economic Development on

L.S.

Philip B. Strong

Assistant Secretary

19th January 1993.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on

L.S.

Trevor Pearson

Assistant Secretary

19th January 1993

Regulation 4(3)(e)

SCHEDULE 1 Relevant Community Directives

1.  Council Directive of 21st December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment (89/686/EEC)(14).

Regulation 13(1)

SCHEDULE 2 Modifications

Part 1 The Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965(15)

1.  In section 31(6), for “breathing apparatus of a type approved by the chief inspector”, there shall be substituted “suitable breathing apparatus”.

Part II Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1971(16)

2.  In each of regulations 49, 50(1) and 59(1), for “breathing apparatus of a type approved for the purpose of this Regulation”, there shall be substituted “suitable breathing apparatus”.

Part III Ionising Radiations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985(17)

3.  In regulation 23(1), after “that respiratory protective equipment”, there shall be inserted “complies with paragraph (1A) or, where no requirement is imposed by that paragraph.”.

4.  After regulation 23(1), there shall be inserted—

“(1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1), personal protective equipment complies with this paragraph if it complies with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health and safety in any relevant Community Directive (Northern Ireland) 1993 which is applicable to that item of personal protective equipment.

(1B) Before choosing personal protective equipment, an employer shall make an assessment to determine whether it will satisfy regulation 6(3).

(1C) The assessment required by paragraph (1B) shall involve—

(a) The definition of the characteristics necessary to comply with regulation 6(3), and

(b) a comparison of the characteristics of available personal protective equipment with the characteristics referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

(1D) The assessment required by paragraph (1B) shall be reviewed if—

(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or

(b) there has been a significant change in the work to which it relates, and where, as a result of the review, changes in the assessment are required, the employer shall make them.”.

5.  At the end of regulation 23 there shall be inserted—

“(2A) Every employer shall ensure that appropriate accommodation is provided for personal protective equipment when it is not being worn.

(2B) Every employee shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that personal protective equipment provided to him is returned after use to the accommodation provided for it.”.

Part IV Control of Lead at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986(18)

6.  In regulation 7—

(a) after “respiratory protective equipment”, there shall be inserted “which complies with regulation 8A or, where the requirements of that regulation do not apply, which is”; and

(b) after “as will”, there shall be inserted, “in either case.”.

7.  In regulation 8, for “adequate protective clothing”, there shall be substituted protective clothing which complies with regulation 8A or, where no requirement is imposed by virtue of that regulation, is adequate

8.  After regulation 8, there shall be inserted—

“Compliance with relevant Community Directives

8A.   Any respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing shall comply with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health or safety in any relevant Community Directive listed in Schedule 1 to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 which is applicable to that item of respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing.

Assessment of respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing

8B.   —

(1) Before choosing respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing, an employer shall make an assessment to determine whether it will satisfy regulation 7 or 8, as appropriate.

(2) The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall involve—

(a) the definition of the characteristics necessary to comply with regulation 7 or, as the case may be, 8, and

(b) a comparison of the characteristics of respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing available with the characteristics referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

(3) The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall be reviewed if—

(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or

(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates,

and, where, as a result of the review, changes in the assessment are required, the employer shall make them.”.

9.  In regulation 9, for paragraph (b), there shall be substituted—

“(b) where he is required under regulation 7 or 8 to provide respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing, adequate changing facilities and adequate facilities for the storage of—

(i) the respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing: and

(ii) personal clothing not worn during working hours.”.

10.  In regulation 13, after paragraph (2), there shall be inserted—

“(3) Every employee shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that any respiratory protective equipment provided to him pursuant to regulation 7 and protective clothing provided to him pursuant to regulation 8 is returned after use to the accommodation provided for it.”.

11.  In regulation 18(2), the full stop at the end shall be omitted and there shall be added “and that any provision imposed by the European Communities in respect of the encouragement of improvements in the safety and health of workers at work will be satisfied.”.

Part V Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988(19)

12.  In regulation 8(3), after “shall” where that word first appears, there shall be inserted “comply with paragraph 3(A) or, where no requirement is imposed by that paragraph shall”.

13.  After regulation 8(3) there shall be inserted—

“(3A) Any respiratory protective equipment provided in pursuance of paragraph (2) or protective clothing provided in pursuance of regulation 11(1) shall comply with this paragraph if it complies with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health or safety in any relevant Community Directive listed in Schedule 1 to the Personal Protective equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 which is applicable to that item of respiratory protective equipment or protective clothing.”.

14.  In regulation 20(2), the full stop at the end shall be omitted and there shall be added “and that any provision imposed by the European Communities in respect of the encouragement of improvements in the safety and health of workers at work will be satisfied.”.

Part VI Noise at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(20)

15.  After regulation 8(2) there shall be inserted—

“(3) Any personal ear protectors provided by virtue of this regulation shall comply with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health or safety in any relevant Community Directive listed in Schedule 1 to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 which is applicable to those ear protectors.”.

Part VII Control of Substances hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(21)

16.  In regulation 13(2) the full stop at the end shall be omitted and there shall be added “and that any provision imposed by the European Communities in respect of the encouragement of improvement in the safety and health of workers at work will be satisfied.”.

17.  In regulation 7, after paragraph (3), there shall be inserted—

“(3A) Any personal protective equipment provided by an employer in pursuance of this regulation shall comply with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health or safety in any relevant Community Directive listed in Schedule 1 to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 which is applicable to that item of personal protective equipment.”.

18.  In regulation 7, in sub-paragraph (6)(b) thereof, there shall be inserted at the beginning “comply with paragraph (3A) or, where no requirement is imposed by virtue of that paragraph.”.

19.  In regulation 8(2), after “these Regulations”, there shall be inserted and shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is returned after use to any accommodation provided for it .

20.  In regulation 14(2) the full stop at the end shall be omitted and there shall be added “and that any provision imposed by the European Communities in respect of the encouragement of improvement in the safety and health of workers at work will be satisfied.”.

Part VIII Construction (Head Protection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990(22)

21.  After regulation 4(2) there shall be inserted—

“(3) Any head protection provided by virtue of this regulation shall comply with any statutory provision which implements in Northern Ireland any provision on design or manufacture with respect to health or safety in any relevant Community Directive listed in Schedule 1 to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 which is applicable to that head protection.

(4) Before choosing head protection, an employer or self-employed person shall make an assessment to determine whether it will be suitable.

(5) The assessment required by paragraph (4) shall involve—

(a) the definition of the characteristics which head protection must have in order to be suitable; and

(b) a comparison of the characteristics of the protection available with the characteristics referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

(6) The assessment required by paragraph (4) shall be reviewed if—

(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or

(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates,

and, where, as a result of the review, changes in the assessment are required, the relevant employer or self-employed person shall make them.

(7) Every employer and every self-employed person shall ensure that appropriate accommodation is available for head protection provided by virtue of these Regulations when it is not being used.”.

22.  For regulation 7(4), there shall be substituted—

“(4) Every employee or self-employed person who is required to wear suitable head protection by or under these Regulations shall—

(a) make full and proper use of it; and

(b) take all reasonable steps to return it after use to the accommodation provided for it.”.

23.  In regulation 9(2), the full stop at the end shall be omitted and there shall be added “and that any provision imposed by the European Communities in respect of the encouragement of improvements in the safety and health of workers at work will be satisfied.”.

Regulation 13(3)

SCHEDULE 3 Revocations

(1)	(2)	(3)
Title	Reference	Extent of Revocation
Regulations dated 26th February 1906 in respect of the processes of spinning and weaving of flax and tow and the processes incidental thereto (the Flax and Tow-Spinning and Weaving Regulations 1906).	S.R. & O.1906/177 amended by S.R. 1990 No. 374	In regulation 9, the words “unless waterproof skirts, and bibs of suitable material, are provided by the occupier and worn by the workers” regulation 13
Order dated 5th October 1917 (the Tin or Terne Plates Manufacturing Order 1917).	S.R. & Co. 1917/1035	Paragraph 1
Order dated 15th August 1919 (the Fruit Preserving (Welfare) Order 1919).	S.R. & O. 1919/1136, amended by S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1965 No. 150 and S.R. 1990 No. 374	Paragraph 1
Order dated 23rd April 1920 (the Laundries Welfare Order 1920).	S.R. & O. 1920/654	Paragraph 1
Order dated 28th July 1920 in respect of the process of gut scraping and gut washing and processes incidental thereto and the preparation and dressing of tripe (the Gut-Scraping Tripe Dressing, etc. Welfare Order 1920).	S.R. & O. 1920/1437	Paragraph 1
Order dated 3rd March 1921 (the Glass Bevelling Welfare Order 1921).	S.R. & O. 1921/288>	Paragraph 1
The Aerated Waters Regulations 1921.	S.R. & O. 1921/1932; amended by S.R. 1982 No. 32	Regulations 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9
The Sacks (Cleaning and Repairing) Welfare Order (Northern Ireland) 1928	S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1928 No. 58 (p. 69)	Paragraph 1
The Iron and Steel Foundries Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1955	S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1955 No. 193 (p. 141) amended by S.R. 1975 No. 228, S.R. 1982 No. 185 and S.R. 1990 No. 374	Regulation 8, so far as unrevoked.
Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1971	S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1971 No. 372 amended by S.R. 1975 No. 228, S.R. 1982 No. 482, S.R. 1986 No. 36 and S.R. 1990 No. 374	Regulation 73 so far as unrevoked.
Non-Ferrous Metals (Melting and Founding) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1964	S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1964 No. 46 amended by S.R. 1975 No. 228	Regulation 13, so far as unrevoked.
The Construction (Health and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1967	S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1967 No. 176	Regulation 15
Foundries (Protective Footwear and Gaiters) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1971.	S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1971 No. 248	The whole Regulations.
Factories (Protection of Eyes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1965	S.R. 1975 No. 228	The whole Regulations.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations impose health and safety requirements with respect to the provision for, and use by, persons at work of personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is defined in regulation 2 and certain types of such equipment are excluded from the application of regulations 4 to 12 by regulation 3(2).

The Regulations do not apply in relation to the master or crew of a sea-going ship or to the employer of such persons in respect of the normal shipboard activities of a ship’s crew under the direction of the master (regulation 3(1)). With that exception, the Regulations, together with the existing Regulations listed in regulation 3(3) (which are modified by Parts III to VIII of Schedule 2), give effect as respects Northern Ireland to certain provisions of Council Directive 89/656/EEC (O.J. No. L393, 30.12.89, p. 18) on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace.

Regulations 4 and 6 to 12 do not apply in respect of risks to health and safety for which personal protective equipment is required by specified existing Regulations (regulation 3(3)).

The Regulations require employers to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided for their employees and also require self-employed persons to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided for themselves. The circumstances in which personal protective equipment must be provided and minimum conditions of what is suitable are specified (regulation 4).

The Regulations also impose requirements with respect to—

(a) the compatibility of items of personal protective equipment where it is necessary to wear or use more than one item simultaneously (regulation 5);

(b) the making, review and changing of assessments in relation to the choice of personal protective equipment (regulation 6);

(c) the maintenance (including replacement and cleaning as appropriate) of personal protective equipment (regulation 7);

(d) the provision of accommodation for personal protective equipment (regulation 8);

(e) the provision of information, instruction and training (regulation 9); and

(f) ensuring that personal protective equipment is properly used (regulation 10(1)).

Both employees and self-employed persons are required to make proper use of personal protective equipment and return it after use to accommodation provided for it (regulation 10(2) to (4)). Employees are also required to report to their employer the loss of or any obvious defect in personal protective equipment (regulation 11).

The Secretary of State for Defence may grant exemptions from the Regulations in the interests of national security (regulation 12).

Certain existing provisions relating to personal protective equipment are modified (regulation 13(1) and Schedule 2). Section 64 of the Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965 is repealed (regulation 13(2)). Provisions replaced by these Regulations are repealed or revoked (regulation 13(3) and Schedule 3).

A person who contravenes the Regulations is guilty of an offence under Article 31 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

(1)

See Article 2(2) of S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9)

(2)

S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9)

(3)

S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1)

(4)

S.R. 1985 No. 273

(5)

S.R. 1986 No. 36

(6)

S.R. 1988 No. 74

(7)

S.R. 1990 No. 147

(8)

S.R. 1990 No. 374

(9)

S.R. 1990 No. 424

(10)

1952 c. 67

(11)

S.I. 1965/1536, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations

(12)

1964 c. 5

(13)

1965 c. 20 (N.I)

(14)

O.J. L399 dated 30.12.89, p.18

(15)

1965 c. 20: by S. R. 1979 No. 246 references to the chief inspector are to be construed as references to an inspector appointed by the Department of Economic Development (formerly the Department of Manpower Services seeS.I. 1982/846 (N.I 11) Article 3) under Article 21 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 or an inspector so appointed who is authorised to act for the purposes of the provision in question.

(16)

S.R. 1971 No. 372

(17)

S.R. 1985 No. 273

(18)

S.R. 1986 No. 36

(19)

S. R. 1988 No. 74

(20)

S.R. 1990 No. 147

(21)

S.R. 1990 No. 374

(22)

S.R. 1990 No. 424