You arrive at the warehouse and ask for a hard hat, high-vis vest, or gloves — and you're told to buy them yourself. Is that legal? No. In Poland your employer is legally required to provide work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to you. This guide explains what you're entitled to and how to enforce your rights.
What Is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
PPE is any equipment worn or carried by a worker to protect against hazards. In a warehouse or logistics setting this typically includes:
- Safety helmet / hard hat
- High-visibility vest or jacket
- Safety footwear with toe protection (steel-toed boots)
- Work and protective gloves
- Safety glasses or face shield
- Hearing protection (earplugs or earmuffs)
- Dust mask or respirator
- Harness for work at height
Who Must Provide PPE?
Under the Polish Labour Code and OHS regulations: the employer — for temporary workers, this is the user company (the actual workplace where you are deployed, not the staffing agency) — must provide all required PPE free of charge. You cannot be charged for purchasing, renting, or laundering protective equipment.
When Is Work Clothing Required?
The employer must provide work clothing (overalls, aprons, etc.) when:
- the work poses a risk of soiling or damaging your own clothing, or
- the production process requires it (e.g. clean rooms, food-processing facilities).
The employer is also responsible for laundering and maintaining work clothing at their own expense.
Your Rights as a Temporary Worker
- Right to refuse unsafe work: if the required PPE is not provided, you have the legal right to refuse to perform hazardous work. This refusal is protected by law and cannot be treated as insubordination.
- No deductions for PPE: the employer may not deduct the cost of PPE from your wages.
- Replacement of worn equipment: if PPE wears out or is damaged through normal use (not your fault), the employer must replace it.
What to Do If the Employer Refuses to Provide PPE
- Report it in writing to your supervisor or HR (an email is sufficient — it creates a paper trail).
- Contact Nexflow — your coordinator will intervene with the user company on your behalf.
- File a complaint with PIP (State Labour Inspectorate) — OHS inspectors can immediately order the employer to provide the equipment and issue a fine (pip.gov.pl).
OHS Induction Training
Before you start any job, your employer must carry out an OHS induction at your specific workstation. Allowing you to start work without this training is illegal in Poland.
Remember
Workplace safety is the employer's legal responsibility — not your personal expense. If you are being pressured to buy safety equipment yourself, or if you are working without the required PPE, contact Nexflow or PIP immediately.
Need Help?
- Nexflow: your coordinator will help enforce your rights with the user company.
- PIP: pip.gov.pl — anonymous online complaint, available 24/7.