Regulation on the Use of PPE: Employer Obligations

What does the regulation on the use of PPE govern?

How personal protective equipment is selected, issued and used in the workplace is set out in the Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Workplaces. Known in practice simply as the regulation on the use of PPE, this text was published in the Official Gazette of 2 July 2013 and applies to all workplaces within the scope of Law No. 6331. It is a short regulation; the employer's obligations are gathered in Articles 5 to 10.

The design and manufacturing requirements for PPE are a separate matter. How equipment placed on the market must be manufactured is governed by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation of 1 May 2019. In short, the conformity of the product you buy is the manufacturer's responsibility; issuing that product for the right job, to the right person, in the right way is yours.

The regulation excludes ordinary working clothes and uniforms, sports equipment and portable devices that detect risks (for example, gas detectors). Overalls that are not designed to protect the employee against a specific risk are not PPE under this regulation.

Personal protective equipment requirement: PPE is the last resort

Article 5 of the regulation sets the basic rule: PPE is used where risks cannot be prevented or adequately limited by technical measures providing collective protection or by work organisation and working methods. The employer gives priority to collective protection measures. The same principle is written in Article 5 of Law No. 6331.

In practice, this means: a noisy compressor is first enclosed, and then hearing protectors are distributed. Local exhaust ventilation is installed for welding fumes first, and then masks are issued. At inspection, the answer "we gave masks to all employees" does not dispose of the question of why there is no ventilation.

The employer determines which PPE is needed for which job based on the results of the risk assessment (Art. 7). The annexes to the regulation make this selection easier: risks are assessed against the sample table in Annex 1, the employer provides the necessary items from the PPE listed in Annex 2, and Annex 3 lists examples of work that require PPE (Art. 8/1).

Is PPE issued free of charge?

Yes. Subparagraph (e) of the first paragraph of Article 6 of the regulation is clear: personal protective equipment is provided free of charge by the employer. The same subparagraph also places maintenance, repair and periodic checks on the employer: the equipment is maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions, the necessary parts are replaced, it is stored under hygienic conditions and kept ready for use. Article 4 of Law No. 6331 also states that the cost of occupational health and safety measures cannot be passed on to employees.

The following practices therefore breach the legislation:

• Deducting the cost of a safety helmet, safety shoes or a mask from wages,
• Not replacing worn gloves on the grounds that "you are entitled to one pair a month",
• Issuing PPE against a deposit,
• Asking subcontractor staff or new starters to buy their own PPE.

Conformity requirements: CE, Turkish instructions and correct selection

Under the regulation, every item of PPE meets the following five requirements together (Art. 6/1-a):

1. It is suitable for preventing the relevant risk without itself creating an additional risk.
2. It is suitable for the conditions in the workplace.
3. It suits the ergonomic requirements and state of health of the user.
4. It fits the user properly once the necessary adjustments are made.
5. Products within scope bear the CE mark and come with Turkish instructions for use.

Where more than one item of PPE is used at the same time for more than one risk, they must be compatible and must not reduce each other's protection (Art. 6/1-b). Glasses worn under a welding mask that stop the mask from sealing, or earmuffs that are incompatible with a safety helmet, are typical examples. If any part of the selected PPE changes, the conformity assessment is repeated (Art. 7/2-b).

The table below summarises what to look for when buying the PPE most commonly used on site. Standard numbers appear on the product label and in the declaration of conformity.

PPE replacement: when is worn equipment renewed?

The regulation does not give a fixed replacement period for each item of PPE. Instead, it requires the conditions of use and in particular the duration of use to be determined taking into account the level of risk, the frequency of exposure, the characteristics of the workstation and the performance of the PPE (Art. 6/1-c). In other words, the business itself sets a rule such as "gloves are changed once a month", with its justification.

Base the replacement decision on these criteria:

• Fault or defect: The employee reports any fault they notice in the PPE to the employer. Faulty PPE is not used until the fault has been remedied and checked, and is replaced with new equipment where necessary (Art. 8/3).
• Manufacturer's service life: For products such as helmets, filters and harnesses, the service life and replacement indicators given by the manufacturer in the instructions apply.
• After an incident: A helmet that has taken an impact, or a fall arrest system that has stopped a fall, is not reused until assessed in line with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Hygiene: If an item of PPE intended for one person must be used by more than one person, all measures are taken to prevent health and hygiene problems (Art. 6/1-ç).

The regulation also requires PPE to be checked before each use (Art. 8/3). Teach this in training as the employee's own check; keep recorded checks for critical equipment such as harnesses and respiratory protective equipment.

PPE training and the employee's view

The employer does two separate things: it informs employees of the risks against which they will use the PPE (Art. 6/1-f) and ensures that practical training is given on the use of the PPE (Art. 6/1-g). Instructions are prepared in a way employees can understand (Art. 6/2). Putting on a mask and checking its fit, adjusting a harness correctly or inserting an earplug properly can only be learned hands-on; showing slides is not enough. Placing this training in the practical part of induction training is a sensible solution; details are in our article on the 2026 training regulation.

In determining PPE, the views of support staff and employee representatives are sought in advance (Art. 10/2). This is not a formality: gloves that employees have not tried and find uncomfortable get taken off on site.

How to build a PPE matrix in five steps

The most practical way to combine the obligations in Articles 5 to 10 of the regulation in a single document is a PPE matrix by department and task. Follow this order:

1. List the tasks. Write tasks instead of department names: not "welding line", but "MIG welder", "welding line forklift operator", "welding line cleaner".
2. Take each task's risks from the risk assessment. The matrix shows the risks remaining after collective measures in the risk assessment; it is not a new analysis.
3. Write the PPE and its standard. Instead of "gloves", specify the product type and protection level to be used.
4. Add the replacement criterion. Time, visible damage or manufacturer's service life, whichever comes first.
5. Trial it with employees and update it. Trial a new product on site with a few people, take their views, then move to bulk purchasing. Update the matrix when the process, machinery or chemicals change.

Once the matrix is ready, issue records, training and stock tracking all run from the same table; it is also the first document requested at inspection.

Employees who do not wear PPE and records requested at inspection

Employees are obliged to use the PPE issued to them correctly, in line with the training and instructions they have received, to look after it and to store it properly (Art. 8/2; Law Art. 19). This does not, however, remove the employer's responsibility. Under Article 4 of Law No. 6331, the employer monitors and checks whether the measures taken are being followed and ensures that non-conformities are remedied. When you see an employee not wearing PPE, first ask why: the wrong size, a mask that makes breathing difficult or glasses that obstruct vision are common reasons.

To be ready for inspection, keep the following records together:

• PPE matrix by department and task (consistent with the risk assessment),
• PPE delivery and issue records,
• Declarations of conformity and Turkish instructions for use of the products,
• PPE use training records,
• Replacement and fault report records,
• Inspection and maintenance records for critical PPE.

Setting up the PPE matrix together with the risk assessment in metal, automotive supplier and textile businesses in Bursa and neighbouring provinces is a routine part of our OHS specialist service. For risks specific to metalworking, see our metal and machinery page; for harness use by forklift operators, see our article on forklift safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the cost of PPE be deducted from wages?

No. The regulation requires PPE to be provided free of charge by the employer; Law No. 6331 also prohibits passing the cost of occupational health and safety measures on to employees.

How often is PPE replaced?

The legislation sets no single period. The employer determines the duration of use according to the level of risk, frequency of exposure, the workplace and the performance of the PPE. PPE that is faulty, worn or has reached the end of its manufacturer service life is renewed without delay.

Do ordinary working clothes count as PPE?

No. Working clothes and uniforms not specifically designed to protect the health and safety of the employee are outside the scope of the regulation. A welder's apron with flame-retardant properties, for example, is PPE.

Does PPE training need to be documented separately?

The regulation requires practical training to be given. Keeping a record showing that this training took place is the employer's only evidence, both at inspection and in any accident investigation.