I think it advisable for anyone wanting such work to have their own PPE. 1. they can ensure it is the correct and good quality PPE, and, 2 it shows the prospective employer they have some forethought. 3. it saves the employer some dosh.

As above we can argue right / wrongs of this, but when I was job hunting I did see this quite a bit. I remember one advert you had to bring your own harness ! There's a lot of desperate people. Its easy to see both sides to the issue if someone is only required for a couple of days then, you can understand to an extent. It would make me wonder what other corners are being cut though.

We have discussed similar a number of times in respect of agency workers and I don't think we have ever come to any consensus. It is common practice for many (not all) employers to ask agency workers or similar to be asked to provide their own, or some of their own PPE. The main sticking point tends to be safety footwear. It is something of a festering sore that the HSE have done little or nothing to resolve. The bottom line for many of these workers is that either they do what they're told or they don't get the work. I don't necessarily agree with it but that is the reality. Of course, providing your own PPE does not necessarily ensure that you either provide the correct PPE or good quality PPE; I would suggest that in many cases quite to opposite might be true. Ordinarily you might reasonably conclude that the employer (rather than a ‘casual’ employee) is best placed to identify the risks and the PPE required to protect against them. Those people who are temporary, casual or agency workers are not necessarily always in the best financial situation, so there is every chance that they may buy PPE with cost rather than quality in mind.

Had a similar discussion only this week. I did not and will not sit on the fence with this one. I told the agency it is their legal and moral duty to ensure the contingent labour they provide are kitted out with appropriate PPE. If anyone turns up on site without PPE they will be turned away - end of. It is the employer's duty to provide PPE and as far as I'm concerned agencies make a profit by providing those people so they must accept some responsibility. I agree with the above comment about the HSE and law being as clear mud - so I am happy to make my own judgement.