Can we ask for a deposit on safety eyewear?

A deposit that is ever retained becomes a charge for required PPE. If loss and damage are the concern, the lawful tools are issue records, training and supervision — regulation 7 places upkeep on the employer.

Can employees buy their own and claim it back?

Reimbursement in full is lawful — the employee ends up charged nothing. The risk is suitability: self-purchased eyewear bypasses the specification step, so the employer must still verify the marking matches the assessment before it is used.

Does the rule apply to agency workers?

Yes. The 2022 amendment extends the PPE duties — including the no-charge position — to limb (b) workers, carried by whoever engages them under a worker’s contract.

Is a "free" scheme funded by lower wages lawful?

Structuring pay to recover PPE costs walks straight back into section 9 territory. PPE is a cost of operating the business, in the same category as guarding a machine — not a benefit to be traded against wages.

Can Employers Charge Employees for PPE or Safety Glasses? — Certus

No — section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work Act prohibits any charge for required PPE, including replacement and upkeep. The rule, its edges, and the traps.

Certus is a UK platform for managing prescription safety eyewear compliance to EN 166, covering hazard assessments, ordering, optician verification and certificate records. Operated by Certus Safety Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 17364362.