Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the last line of defence between a worker and a workplace hazard. While engineering controls and safe work procedures reduce risk at the source, PPE protects the individual when residual risk remains.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act 85 of 1993) is explicit: employers must provide appropriate PPE, at no cost to the employee, for every work activity that carries a risk of injury or health impairment.
What the OHS Act Says About PPE
Regulation 2 of the OHS Act General Safety Regulations states that an employer must:
- Identify all work activities where there is a risk of injury or disease that PPE can protect against
- Provide each employee with suitable PPE, appropriate to the hazard
- Supply PPE at no cost to the employee
- Ensure PPE is maintained in a good and clean condition
- Instruct employees in the correct use, storage, and maintenance of PPE
Failure to provide required PPE is a direct OHS Act violation and a first-tier finding in any Department of Labour inspection.
PPE by Workplace Type
Construction Sites
Under the Construction Regulations 2014, construction workers require:
- Hard hat (SANS 1397) — mandatory on all construction sites
- Safety footwear (SANS 20345 / EN ISO 20345) — steel toecap, slip-resistant sole
- Hi-vis vest or jacket — for all workers where vehicle movement occurs
- Safety gloves — cut-resistant or leather, depending on the task
- Safety glasses — for any cutting, drilling, or grinding operations
- Dust mask / respirator — for work generating dust, fumes, or airborne particles
Warehouses and Industrial Sites
- Hard hat in areas with overhead operations or storage racking
- Safety footwear — universal requirement on all industrial floors
- Hi-vis vest where forklifts or vehicles operate
- Gloves for manual handling, palletising, or chemical handling
- Safety glasses in areas with particle or chemical splash risk
Chemical and Hazardous Substance Environments
The Hazardous Chemical Substances (HCS) Regulations add requirements for:
- Chemical-resistant gloves appropriate to the specific substance
- Chemical splash goggles (not just safety glasses)
- Half-face or full-face respirator with appropriate cartridge for the substance
- Chemical-resistant overalls or apron
Offices and Low-Risk Environments
General office environments typically require minimal PPE beyond:
- Fire safety awareness and access to emergency equipment
- Ergonomic considerations (not PPE in the traditional sense, but an OHS obligation)
Most office PPE obligations arise in maintenance activities — electrical work, facility repairs, cleaning with chemicals.
PPE by Work Activity
| Work Activity | Required PPE | Relevant SANS Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Hard hat, safety footwear (S3), hi-vis vest, safety gloves, safety glasses, dust mask / respirator | SANS 1397 (hard hats); SANS 20345 (footwear); SANS 1399 (hi-vis) |
| Warehousing | Safety footwear, hi-vis vest, gloves, safety glasses in high-risk zones, hard hat under racking | SANS 20345 (footwear); SANS 1399 (hi-vis) |
| Chemical handling | Chemical-resistant gloves, chemical splash goggles, respirator with correct cartridge, chemical-resistant apron or overalls | SANS 1369 (respiratory protection); HCS Regulations (risk-based selection) |
| Welding | Welding helmet / auto-darkening face shield, leather gloves, flame-resistant overalls, safety footwear, respirator for fume extraction | SANS 1774 (eye and face protection); SANS 1399 (protective clothing) |
| Electrical work | Insulated gloves (voltage-rated), safety footwear (non-conductive sole), arc flash face shield, insulated tools, hard hat where overhead risk exists | SANS 10142 (electrical installations); SANS 1385 (insulating gloves) |
| General manufacturing | Safety footwear, safety glasses, hearing protection (where noise exceeds 85 dB), gloves, hi-vis vest in vehicle movement zones | SANS 20345 (footwear); SANS 1311 (hearing protection); SANS 1397 (head protection) |
Hard Hat Standards: What SANS 1397 Requires
SANS 1397 (equivalent to EN 397) is the South African standard for industrial safety helmets. A compliant hard hat must:
- Withstand a 5 kg object dropped from 1 metre
- Have a suspension system that keeps the shell at least 25 mm from the head
- Have a chin strap point that allows release under load
- Be replaced every 3 years, or immediately after any impact
Hard hats must be inspected before each use — look for cracks, dents, faded colour (UV degradation), or a damaged suspension. A visually acceptable hard hat may still be structurally compromised if it absorbed a prior impact.
Safety Footwear: What SANS 20345 Requires
SANS 20345 (aligned with EN ISO 20345) sets the requirements for safety footwear in South Africa:
- S1: Basic safety, toecap, antistatic, fuel oil resistant sole
- S2: S1 + water penetration resistance
- S3: S2 + midsole penetration resistance (most common on construction sites)
The S3 rating is required on most South African construction and industrial sites because it protects against both toe and underfoot puncture hazards.
PPE Does Not Replace Engineering Controls
Under the OHS Act hierarchy of controls, PPE is the last resort — it compensates for risk that could not be eliminated or reduced at the source. The OHS Act requires employers to:
- Eliminate the hazard if possible
- Substitute a less hazardous material or process
- Apply engineering controls (guarding, ventilation, isolation)
- Apply administrative controls (procedures, training, rotation)
- Provide PPE — only after steps 1–4 have been applied
A workplace that skips straight to PPE without addressing root causes is not meeting its OHS Act obligations, even if workers are wearing the correct equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an employer legally required to provide PPE free of charge in South Africa?▼
Yes. Regulation 2 of the OHS Act General Safety Regulations is explicit: an employer must supply PPE to employees at no cost. Requiring workers to purchase their own PPE, or deducting the cost from wages, is a direct violation of the Act. The employer is also responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing PPE as needed at no charge to the employee.
What PPE is required on a South African construction site?▼
Under the Construction Regulations 2014, the minimum PPE on a South African construction site includes a SANS 1397-compliant hard hat, SANS 20345 S3-rated safety footwear, a hi-vis vest for all workers in areas where vehicles operate, safety gloves appropriate to the task, and safety glasses for cutting, grinding, or drilling operations. Dust masks or respirators are required for any work generating airborne particles, fumes, or hazardous dust.
What is a PPE issue register and is it required by law?▼
A PPE issue register is a record documenting which PPE items were issued to which employees, on which date, and in what condition. While the OHS Act does not use the specific term “PPE issue register,” the obligation to maintain PPE in good condition and demonstrate compliance during a DoEL inspection means keeping issue records is effectively required. During any inspection or post-incident investigation, a PPE issue register is the primary evidence that the employer met its PPE obligations.
How long is a hard hat valid for under South African regulations?▼
SANS 1397 requires that industrial safety helmets be replaced every 3 years from the date of manufacture, or immediately following any significant impact — even if the helmet shows no visible damage. UV exposure, heat, and chemical contact can degrade the shell’s structural integrity before visible signs appear. The manufacture date is stamped inside the shell; any hard hat beyond 3 years must be removed from service regardless of its apparent condition.
Can an employee be disciplined for refusing to wear PPE?▼
Yes. The OHS Act places a duty on employees to comply with health and safety requirements, including using PPE provided by the employer. An employee who refuses to wear required PPE after proper instruction and reasonable warning can face progressive disciplinary action. However, the employer must first demonstrate that the PPE was correctly provided, fitted, and that the employee was trained in its use — discipline is not appropriate if the employer has not met its own obligations first.
What SANS standard applies to safety footwear in South Africa?▼
Safety footwear in South Africa is governed by SANS 20345, which is aligned with the international EN ISO 20345 standard. The standard classifies footwear into categories S1, S2, and S3 based on protective features — the S3 rating is the most commonly required on construction and industrial sites as it includes midsole puncture resistance in addition to toecap and antistatic properties. Employers should confirm the correct category based on the specific hazards identified in their risk assessment.
Where can I buy OHS Act compliant PPE in Johannesburg?▼
Dimple Safety stocks the full range of OHS Act-compliant PPE from our warehouse at 22 Fraser Street, KAJ Park, Unit 8, Booysens, Johannesburg. Available products include SANS 1397 hard hats, SANS 20345 safety footwear (S1, S2, S3), hi-vis vests and jackets, safety gloves, safety glasses and goggles, and N95 dust masks and half-face respirators. All items are available for same-day collection, or you can request a quote for site delivery. Call us on 011 493 3000 or visit dimplesafety.co.za.
Where to Buy OHS Act-Compliant PPE in South Africa
Dimple Safety stocks the full PPE range for South African workplaces from our Booysens, Johannesburg warehouse:
- Hard hats (SANS 1397) — standard and vented
- Hi-vis vests and jackets — Class 2 and Class 3 reflective
- Safety gloves — leather, latex, cut-resistant, chemical-resistant
- Safety glasses and goggles — clear and tinted lens options
- Safety footwear (SANS 20345) — S1, S2, S3
- Dust masks (N95) and half-face respirators
All available from stock for same-day collection at Booysens, or request a quote for site delivery.
📞 011 493 3000 | 🌐 dimplesafety.co.za | 📍 Booysens, Johannesburg
