Finally some money secures protective gear — so workers are properly this? (8)
I believe the answer is:
equipped
'so workers are properly this?' is the definition.
(workers must be properly equipped)
'finally some money secures protective gear' is the wordplay.
'finally' indicates one should take the final letters.
'money' becomes 'quid' (quid can mean pounds).
'secures' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'protective gear' becomes 'PPE' (abbreviation for personal protective equipment).
The last letter of 'some' is 'e'.
'quid' enclosing 'ppe' is 'quipped'.
'e'+'quipped'='EQUIPPED'
(Other definitions for equipped that I've seen before include "Furnished" , "Supplied (with items)" , "Fitted out with what's necessary" , "Provided" , "Fitted out with whatever is needed" .)