What is L25?
L25 is the HSE's Approved Code of Practice and guidance for the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended in 2022). These regulations require employers to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees who may be exposed to health and safety risks that cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
PPE includes all equipment intended to be worn or held to protect against risk, such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, safety harnesses, and respiratory protective equipment.
Who Needs This Document?
L25 applies to all employers who provide PPE to their workers:
- Construction companies providing hard hats, boots, and high-vis
- Manufacturing businesses issuing hearing protection, safety glasses, or gloves
- Healthcare providers using masks, gloves, and protective clothing
- Chemical industries requiring respiratory protection
- Laboratories using specialist protective equipment
- Property maintenance teams needing various PPE for different tasks
- Any employer whose risk assessment identifies a need for PPE
Note: Following the 2022 amendments, these regulations now also apply to limb (b) workers (those who work under a contract to personally perform work, similar to employees).
Key Topics Covered
When PPE is Required
PPE should only be used as a last resort after other control measures have been considered. The hierarchy of control means you should first try to:
- Eliminate the hazard entirely
- Substitute with something less hazardous
- Use engineering controls
- Use administrative controls
- Only then use PPE if residual risk remains
Suitability of PPE
PPE must be:
- Appropriate for the risks and conditions
- Take account of ergonomic requirements and the wearer's health
- Capable of fitting correctly after any necessary adjustment
- Effective to prevent or adequately control the risk
- Compatible with other PPE if multiple items are needed
Assessment
Employers must assess PPE to ensure it is suitable. This assessment must consider:
- The risks that have not been avoided by other means
- The characteristics required to be effective
- Comparison with available PPE
- Any risks the PPE itself might create
Maintenance and Storage
PPE must be:
- Maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair
- Replaced when necessary
- Stored appropriately when not in use
Information, Instruction and Training
Employers must provide:
- Information on risks the PPE protects against
- Purpose and manner of use
- Action needed to maintain PPE
- Adequate training including practical demonstrations
- Training records should be kept
Use of PPE
Employees must:
- Use PPE in accordance with training and instructions
- Return PPE to storage after use
- Report any loss or defect
Legal Status
As an Approved Code of Practice, L25 has special legal status. Failure to follow the ACOP would be taken by a court as proof of contravention unless you can show you complied with the law in another way.
The 2022 amendments extended PPE duties to cover limb (b) workers, recognising that many people work in arrangements that are similar to employment and deserve the same protection.
Why It Matters
PPE is often the most visible part of workplace safety, but it must be used correctly to be effective:
- PPE is the last line of defence and should never be the first choice for risk control
- Poorly selected PPE may give a false sense of security without providing adequate protection
- Uncomfortable PPE often goes unused, leaving workers exposed
- Ill-fitting PPE can create additional hazards
- Unmaintained PPE may fail when needed most
Proper implementation ensures:
- Effective protection when other controls cannot eliminate risk
- Worker compliance through proper selection and fitting
- Legal compliance with documented assessments and training
- Cost efficiency through appropriate selection and maintenance
- Worker confidence that they are properly protected
For SMEs, understanding when PPE is and is not appropriate is crucial. Over-reliance on PPE when better controls exist can be both ineffective and expensive. L25 helps you take a proportionate approach to personal protective equipment.