Who pays for temp PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)? Not the worker. The host employer or staffing agency are responsible for keeping temporary workers safe with the right gear. OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative is a hot potato. Dan Clark explains that it’s typically the host employer that is responsible for providing PPE, since work is done on site. Staffing agencies, though, have some responsibility too. Dan also notes some PPE items which employers are not required to provide.