Hi-vis, PPE and workwear: standards, costs and what employers must provide

PPE and workwear suppliers sell hi-vis clothing, safety boots, hard hats, gloves and other protective equipment, plus branded workwear for your team. Most sell online with UK-wide delivery, and some also have trade counters. In Great Britain, employers must provide PPE free of charge to employees and, since 6 April 2022, to limb (b) workers. Published prices start at about £1.50 for a basic hi-vis vest, safety boots mostly cost £30 to £150, and adding a logo costs about £3 to £6 an item.

What the law says employers must do

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, amended in 2022, apply to every employer in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive says PPE is the last resort, used after other ways of controlling a risk have been considered.

• Assess the risk. Decide from a risk assessment whether PPE is needed and what kind.
• Provide it free. PPE must be provided free of charge to employees and, since 6 April 2022, to limb (b) workers: people who personally do casual or irregular work under a contract but are not self-employed.
• Make sure it fits and works together. HSE says PPE must fit the wearer, and items worn together, such as a hard hat and ear defenders, must be compatible.
• Maintain and store it. Keep PPE in good condition and store it properly.
• Train people. Give workers enough information, instruction and training to use it correctly.
• Check the marking. HSE says PPE must carry a CE or UKCA mark. The government has extended recognition of the CE mark in Great Britain indefinitely, so either is accepted.

Hi-vis clothing: which class?

Hi-vis clothing for work is made to EN ISO 20471, which sets three classes by the minimum area of fluorescent background material and reflective tape. The class you need comes from your risk assessment.

Safety boots: what the codes mean

Safety footwear is made to EN ISO 20345, updated in 2022. Every safety boot has a toe cap tested to 200 joules, and the 2022 version makes slip resistance (SR) standard.

Hard hats: with or without a chin strap?

Gloves and hearing protection

• Gloves. Work gloves for cuts, abrasion and puncture are tested to EN 388, with the scores printed on the glove. Match the ratings to the task in your risk assessment.
• Hearing protection. Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must assess the risk and give information and training at 80 dB(A), and must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones at 85 dB(A). Exposure must not go above 87 dB(A), allowing for the protection worn.

What PPE and workwear cost

These ranges come from UK suppliers' published prices. They vary by brand, quantity and specification, so check whether prices include VAT and delivery.

Buying for a team

• Check the site rules. Sites can set their own minimum PPE, so check what each site expects before you order.
• Check the label. Look for the CE or UKCA mark and the standard, such as EN ISO 20471 class 2 or EN ISO 20345 S3.
• Get sizes right. PPE has to fit the wearer, so collect sizes for everyone and order a few spares.
• Allow time for branding. Printed and embroidered orders can take longer than stock items, so ask about lead times before a new starter's first day.

Questions to ask a supplier

• Which standard and class is this item made to, and is it CE or UKCA marked?
• Will the hi-vis still meet its class once our logo is added?
• What are the prices for our quantity, and do they include VAT and delivery?
• Is there a setup fee for our logo, and is it waived on larger orders?
• How long do branded orders take, and can you hold stock for repeat orders?
• Can we exchange sizes that don't fit?

Prices in this guide are typical ranges from suppliers' published price lists and cost guides. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the price with the supplier before you book. Rules, fees and tax rates are checked against official sources.