← BlogSeptember 2, 20225 min readEditorial teamDEUAENRU
For Workers
Work Clothing and Protective Equipment: What You Get and What You Bring
Shoes, helmet, gloves, high-vis vest: who provides what? Here you will learn which protective equipment your employer must pay for and what to pack for day one.
Work clothing is not the same as protective equipment
Normal work clothing, such as trousers and a T-shirt, is clothing you wear at work. Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects you from specific hazards, such as safety shoes, helmet, goggles, ear protection, protective gloves or high-visibility clothing. Different rules apply to each.
What the employer must provide
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the employer must provide necessary protective equipment free of charge. The costs must not be passed on to you. The employer must also instruct you in correct use and take care of condition and replacement. After a risk assessment, the business decides which PPE is needed.
Typical PPE by sector
- Construction and installation: hard hat, safety shoes, gloves, high-vis vest, goggles, ear protection
- Agriculture: gloves, weatherproof clothing, sturdy shoes, sun protection
- Hotel and cleaning: non-slip shoes, gloves for cleaning products, apron
- Warehouse and logistics: safety shoes, gloves, high-vis vest
More on daily life in a sector in Hotel Housekeeping Jobs: Duties, Standards and Pay and Harvest Work in Germany: What a Day in the Field Looks Like.
What you usually bring yourself
Simple everyday clothing that does not count as protective equipment is often brought by you, such as underwear, T-shirts or comfortable trousers. Some businesses provide work clothing or work shoes, others expect you to buy them. Ask before you travel and get in writing what is provided and what is not.
If equipment is missing or broken
Do not work without necessary protective equipment. Talk to your supervisor and ask for a replacement. You have the right to insist on safe working conditions. The employer also bears the cost of cleaning and maintaining PPE.
Checklist for day one
- Asked which PPE is provided
- Sturdy shoes, weatherproof clothing and spare clothes packed
- Instruction on equipment and hazards received
- Safety contact person known
- Emergency number 112 saved
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for safety shoes and a helmet?
The employer must provide necessary protective equipment free of charge.
Do I have to buy work clothing myself?
You usually bring normal everyday clothing yourself. Ask whether the business provides work clothing.
What if protective equipment is missing?
Do not work without PPE, inform your supervisor and ask for a replacement.
Who explains correct use?
The employer must instruct you before you start.