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PPE issue and inspection register

Where PPE is the control, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires a employer to provide it, and to make sure it is suitable, correctly fitted, maintained and actually used. Providing it is not enough on its own. This register records issue, fit, training and inspection so you can show all four.

Who it's for: health and safety managers, store and workshop supervisors, and anyone who hands out equipment and needs a record of it.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-08-02 · No email required

Worker details

Name
Role and work area
Start date
Known fit considerations Prescription eyewear, facial hair affecting respirator seal, sizing, medical or religious requirements

PPE issued

One row per item. The signature column is what turns this from a stores record into evidence that the worker received the item and the instruction that goes with it.

Item and specificationStandard or ratingSizeDate issuedIssued byWorker signature
      
      
      
      
      

Fit and training record

  • Worker was shown why the item is required and what it protects against
  • Correct fitting was demonstrated and the worker demonstrated it back
  • Fit testing was completed where the item requires it, and the result recorded
  • Inspection before each use was explained, including what a fail looks like
  • Cleaning, storage and charging requirements were explained
  • Worker knows how to report a damaged, lost or poorly fitting item, and that replacement is free
  • Limitations were explained, including what the item does not protect against

Inspection and replacement schedule

Items with a service life or an inspection requirement go here. Record the interval from the manufacturer's instructions, not from habit.

ItemInspection intervalLast inspectedResultReplacement dueInspector
      
      
      
      

Returned, replaced or damaged

ItemDateReasonReplaced withSigned
     
     
     

Declaration

I confirm I have received the items listed, been shown how to fit, inspect, clean and store them, and understand that I must wear them where required and report any damage or poor fit immediately. I understand replacements are provided at no cost to me.

Worker signature and date. Issuer signature and date.

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

  • Issue against a documented requirement, ideally the risk assessment that concluded PPE was needed. PPE chosen without an assessment tends to be the wrong PPE.
  • Fit test anything that relies on a seal, and record the result. An untested respirator is not a control.
  • Never charge workers for PPE or its replacement.
  • Diarise replacement dates rather than waiting for items to visibly fail. Many items degrade before they look worn.
  • Check the register when someone changes role. New task, new assessment, possibly new equipment.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

Can we charge workers for PPE or make them supply their own?
No. Where PPE is required as a control, the employer must provide it at no cost to the worker, including replacements. Making workers buy their own is not compliant, and it reliably produces the cheapest available equipment rather than the right equipment.
Is PPE enough on its own?
Only as a last resort. PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls because it protects one person, only while worn correctly, and fails without warning. You need to show you considered elimination, substitution, isolation and engineering controls first, and that PPE is filling the residual gap.
How often should PPE be inspected?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for each item, since intervals differ widely between a hard hat, a harness and a respirator. Some items also require inspection before every use by the wearer. Record both the interval you are working to and its source.
What if a worker refuses to wear it?
Find out why before treating it as a discipline matter. The usual causes are poor fit, discomfort, fogging, or the item making the task harder, and all of those are fixable. An item nobody will wear is not a working control regardless of what the assessment says.

The template covers the paperwork. Duress covers the response.