PPE Requirements by Trade: What Personal Protective Equipment Do You Need?

What Is PPE and Who Is Responsible for It?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is any equipment worn to minimise exposure to workplace hazards. In the UK, PPE provision is governed by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 (an update to the 1992 regulations), which extended the duty of care to include limb workers and the self-employed — not just employees.

Under these regulations, employers must:

  • Assess the risks and identify appropriate PPE
  • Provide suitable PPE free of charge to workers
  • Ensure PPE is properly maintained and replaced when worn
  • Train workers on correct use

Self-employed workers are responsible for their own PPE. The key principle is that PPE is a last resort — hazards should be eliminated or controlled first, with PPE used where residual risk remains.

PPE Requirements by Trade

Construction & General Site Work

Construction is one of the most heavily regulated industries for PPE in the UK, governed by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 alongside general PPE law.

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Head protection: Hard hat (EN 397) — mandatory on most sites
  • High visibility clothing: Minimum Class 2 EN ISO 20471 — required wherever plant or vehicles are operating
  • Safety footwear: S1P or S3 rated boots (EN ISO 20345) with toecap and midsole
  • Eye protection: Safety glasses or goggles (EN 166) for cutting, grinding, or drilling
  • Hand protection: General-purpose work gloves; cut-resistant gloves (EN 388) for handling sharp materials
  • Hearing protection: Ear defenders or plugs (EN 352) when using power tools or in noisy environments
  • Respiratory protection: Dust masks (FFP2/FFP3) for cutting masonry, concrete, or working with hazardous dust

Browse our hi-vis jackets and hi-vis waterproofs for construction-grade Class 2 and Class 3 options.

Electrical Work

Electricians face specific risks from arc flash, electric shock, and working at height. PPE must be selected to address electrical hazards specifically — standard workwear is not sufficient.

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Arc flash protection: Arc-rated (AR) clothing rated in calories per cm² appropriate to the arc flash risk assessment
  • Insulating gloves: Rated to the voltage being worked on (EN 60903)
  • Safety footwear: Antistatic or ESD-rated boots (S1 or S1P minimum); avoid highly conductive soles
  • Eye protection: Safety glasses for general work; arc flash face shield for live working
  • Head protection: Non-conductive hard hat where overhead risk exists
  • Hi-vis: Required when working near roads or in traffic management zones

Plumbing & Heating Engineers

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Safety footwear: S1P minimum; S3 for site-based work
  • Knee protection: Knee pads (EN 14404) for floor-level work
  • Hand protection: Heat-resistant gloves for soldering; chemical-resistant gloves when handling flux or solvents
  • Eye protection: Safety glasses for cutting pipe or working with pressurised systems
  • Respiratory protection: FFP2 mask when working with older pipework that may contain asbestos insulation (always commission an asbestos survey first)
  • Hi-vis: Class 2 required when working on or near roads

Landscaping & Groundworks

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Safety footwear: S3 SRC as a minimum; S5 or S7 for wet or waterlogged ground
  • Hi-vis clothing: Class 2 when near roads or plant machinery
  • Eye protection: Safety glasses or goggles when using strimmers, chainsaws, or chippers
  • Hearing protection: Ear defenders for chainsaw or machinery use
  • Hand protection: Cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 Level C or above) for chainsaw-adjacent work; general grip gloves for planting and groundworks
  • Chainsaw PPE: If operating a chainsaw — chainsaw trousers (EN ISO 11393), chainsaw boots, helmet with visor and ear defenders, and chainsaw gloves are all legally required

See our hi-vis trousers and safety footwear for landscaping-suitable options.

Logistics, Warehousing & Delivery

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Safety footwear: S1P minimum for warehouse environments; S3 for yard or outdoor work
  • Hi-vis clothing: Class 1 for low-risk indoor areas away from vehicles; Class 2 wherever forklifts or vehicles operate
  • Hand protection: General handling gloves; cut-resistant gloves for picking operations involving sharp packaging
  • Back support: Not classified as PPE under EN standards, but manual handling training and mechanical aids should be the primary control

Browse our hi-vis t-shirts and polos and hi-vis sweatshirts — popular choices for warehouse and logistics teams.

Roofing

Working at height is the single biggest cause of fatal injuries in UK construction. Roofing PPE must address both fall protection and general site hazards.

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Fall protection: Full-body harness (EN 361) with appropriate lanyard and anchor point — mandatory when working at height without collective protection
  • Safety footwear: S3 with good ankle support and slip-resistant sole (SRC rated)
  • Head protection: Hard hat on site; bump cap where hard hat is impractical in confined roof spaces
  • Hi-vis: Class 2 when on site with plant or vehicles below
  • Knee protection: Knee pads for felt or tile laying
  • Eye and respiratory protection: When cutting tiles, felt, or insulation materials

Highways & Road Maintenance

Workers on or near live carriageways face the highest traffic risk of any trade. PPE requirements are strict and enforced by the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 and sector-specific guidance.

Typical PPE requirements:

  • Hi-vis clothing: Class 3 mandatory on motorways and high-speed roads; Class 2 minimum on lower-speed roads
  • Safety footwear: S3 or S7 rated; midsole and waterproofing essential for outdoor road environments
  • Head protection: Hard hat on active works sites
  • Eye and hearing protection: For breaking, cutting, or compacting operations

Our Class 3 hi-vis jackets and hi-vis waterproofs are ideal for highways and utilities teams.

General PPE Rules That Apply to All Trades

  • Always check the CE/UKCA mark — PPE sold in the UK must carry a UKCA mark (or CE mark for transitional stock) confirming it meets the relevant standard
  • Replace damaged PPE immediately — worn, cracked, or degraded PPE may offer no protection at all
  • PPE must fit correctly — ill-fitting PPE is a common cause of injury; ensure sizing is appropriate for each individual worker
  • Training is required — workers must be shown how to correctly don, doff, adjust, and maintain their PPE
  • PPE is the last line of defence — always apply the hierarchy of controls first (eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate) before relying on PPE

Kit Out Your Team with ProAttire

We supply EN ISO 20471 certified hi-vis clothing and workwear for trades across Preston, Lancashire and the UK — available with custom embroidery or DTF printing so your team looks professional on site.

Need to spec PPE for a whole team? Get in touch — we offer bulk pricing and can advise on the right kit for your industry.

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