Definition and classification
Personal protective equipment (PPE) consists of special equipment such as devices or clothing for workers to protect themselves – a helmet, safety shoes or hearing protection, for example. Depending on the risk to be guarded against, it falls into three categories; the higher the category, the more demanding the conformity assessment the manufacturer has to carry out.
The accident prevention rules (UVV) set out the TOP principle , the order of precedence for occupational safety measures: first technical measures (replacing a harmful material, for example), then organizational measures (work processes that minimize contact) and only then personal measures – PPE – as the last resort where a residual risk remains.
Legal framework
In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (the PPE Regulation) governs personal protective equipment and applies directly as law. In Germany the binding requirement is anchored in the PPE Use Ordinance (PSA-BV); it covers procurement by the employer, use by the employee, and requirements and instruction. On top of that comes the equal treatment principle (Equal Treatment) of the AÜG: the same PPE rules apply to temporary workers as to permanent staff.
Who is responsible in staff leasing?
It has to be settled from the outset who is responsible for occupational health and safety. The temporary work agency , as the formal employer, is responsible in the first instance and holds the contractual right of control. In practice the Hirer carries just as much responsibility: it has the task-specific authority to instruct and has to see to the practical implementation at the workplace. Who provides which PPE is set out in the leasing agreement (AÜV).
Why does PPE matter particularly in staff leasing?
Because their workplaces, conditions and safety arrangements change constantly, temporary workers face a heightened risk of accidents. What helps: providing the PPE needed (responsibility set in the AÜV), informing workers about their rights and protective measures by leaflet or brochure, information events and consultation hours, and works council members and safety experts to assess the hazards. Provision and instruction belong documented in the Onboarding.