Back and work Updated on September 29, 2026 By Axel Paupier Methodology

Who pays for an exoskeleton at work: employer or employee?

Q: Who pays for an exoskeleton at work: employer or employee?

In principle, the employer. Article L4122-2 of the French Labour Code states that health and safety measures at work must not entail any financial burden for workers. If the employer introduces an exoskeleton to prevent a risk, the cost therefore falls on the employer. This is not legal advice.

The answer in detail

The principle is set out in article L4122-2 of the French Labour Code: measures taken on health and safety at work must not entail any financial burden for workers. When an exoskeleton is introduced by the employer to prevent an occupational risk, it is therefore in principle for the employer to bear the cost, not the employee.

The situation of an employee who would buy an exoskeleton on their own initiative falls outside what this rule says. It should be discussed with the employer and the occupational physician; we cannot settle it here. This article is not legal advice.

What the rule says

The general rule does not mention exoskeletons: it applies to any health and safety measure. For the particular case of exoskeletons, INRS sets out the expected approach for employers in its frequently asked questions, updated in 2018.

An exoskeleton used at a workstation must be included in the occupational risk assessment and recorded in the single risk assessment document.
The employer defines and clearly communicates the goals, putting workers' health before productivity gains.
The employer must assess collective prevention measures before considering an exoskeleton.
Follow-up involves the occupational health and prevention service and staff representatives, in the short, medium and long term.

The employer can also be helped: the French Occupational Risk Insurance offers the "Ergonomic risk prevention" subsidy, which names exoskeletons when the occupational physician recommends an individual workstation adaptation, at 70% of the investment in the general case (page updated 17 February 2026). See our question on financial aid in companies.

Step-by-step instructions

If you think an exoskeleton could help at your workstation, here is the approach consistent with these principles.

Identify precisely the movement or posture that causes the problem (load carrying, arms raised, working bent over).
Report it to your employer and to the occupational health and prevention service.
Ask for the situation to be examined in the risk assessment, starting with collective measures.
If an exoskeleton is chosen, ask for a trial at your real workstation and a familiarization phase before deployment.
Plan to track how you feel: discomfort, pain, malfunctions, in the short, medium and long term.

Common mistakes

These mistakes come up often when an exoskeleton is considered without a collective approach.

Buying an exoskeleton yourself without telling the employer or the occupational physician.
Believing an exoskeleton replaces collective measures: INRS asks for them to be examined first.
Choosing on price alone, without assessing the workstation and the movements involved.
Forgetting long-term follow-up, when long-term effects are not yet well known according to INRS.

Key takeaways

In principle, the employer bears the cost of health and safety measures at work, including an exoskeleton when it is introduced to prevent a risk. The case of a personal purchase by the employee is not settled by this rule and should be discussed with the employer and the occupational physician. This is not medical advice and not legal advice. To learn about employers' obligations, read our article on exoskeleton regulation at work and our guide by job.