Mandatory PPE on the shop floor: what the French Labour Code says

Hard hat, hi-vis vest, safety glasses: French regulation is clear on one point — the employer carries the responsibility. Here is the essential to know to stay compliant and, above all, to avoid the accident. This article covers French law; the principles are close to those found across the EU.

The duty of safety rests on the employer

The founding principle is set out in article L4121-1 of the French Labour Code (Code du travail): the employer must take “the measures necessary to ensure the safety and protect the physical and mental health of workers”. This obligation is described as a “reinforced duty of means”: in the event of an accident, it is up to the employer to demonstrate that everything was done to prevent it.

In practice this follows a hierarchy: first eliminate the risk at source, then put collective protections in place (guards, railings, extraction), and only as a last resort turn to personal protective equipment. PPE is never the first answer — but when it is necessary, it becomes mandatory.

Who provides, who pays, who maintains

The answer is one word: the employer. PPE is provided free of charge by the company, which also handles maintenance, repairs and replacement (article R4323-95). Charging an employee for a hard hat, or asking them to bring their own, is not compliant.

The employer must also train employees in the use of PPE and check that it is actually worn. This is where many workshops run into difficulty: providing the equipment is simple; making sure it is worn at all times in hazard zones is much less so.

The employee has obligations too

Article L4122-1 requires employees to look after their own safety and that of others, and to follow instructions — including wearing PPE. Repeated refusal can justify disciplinary action. But be careful: case law holds that tolerance by management binds the company. If everyone knows the hard hat “comes off” at the end of the day and nobody says anything, liability stays with the employer.

Hazard zones: mark out, signpost, check

For zones where PPE is mandatory (press areas, lifting, cutting, loading docks…), three good practices come up again and again in well-organised companies:

• Mark out the zone on the floor and with standardised signage (blue mandatory-action signs).
• Document the rule in the single risk assessment document (DUERP) and the workplace rules.
• Check actual wear — this is the weak link: the supervisor cannot have eyes everywhere, all the time.

It is precisely on this third point that automatic equipment detection changes the game: it turns an occasional, random check into continuous verification, without putting a guard behind a screen.

This article presents the broad principles of French regulation; it does not replace legal advice tailored to your situation. The texts cited can be consulted on legifrance.gouv.fr.