Why is PPE important?
- Making the workplace safe includes providing instructions,
procedures, training and supervision to encourage people to work safely
and responsibly.
- Even where engineering controls and safe systems of work have been
applied, some hazards might remain. These include injuries to:
- The lungs, eg from breathing in contaminated air
- The head and feet, eg from falling materials
- The hands, eg from cuts or burns which can be protected by PPE gloves
- The eyes, eg from flying particles or splashes of corrosive liquids
- The skin, eg from contact with corrosive materials
- The body, eg from extreme temperatures
PPE is needed in these cases to reduce the risk.
What do I have to do?
Selection and use
You should ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is exposed and to what?
- How long are they exposed for?
- How much are they exposed to?
When selecting and using PPE:
- Choose products which are CE
marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations
2002 – suppliers can advise you
- Choose equipment that suits the
user – consider the size, fit and weight of the PPE. If the users help
choose it, they will be more likely to use it
- If more than one
item of PPE is worn at the same time, make sure they can be used
together, eg wearing safety glasses may disturb the seal of a
respirator, causing air leaks
- Instruct and train people how to
use it, eg train people to remove gloves without contaminating their
skin. Tell them why it is needed, when to use it and what its
limitations are
Other advice on PPE
- Never allow exemptions from wearing PPE for those jobs that ‘only take a few minutes'
- Check with your supplier on what PPE is appropriate – explain the job to them
- If in doubt, seek further advice from a specialist adviser
Maintenance
PPE must be properly looked after and stored when not in use, eg in a
dry, clean cupboard. If it is reusable it must be cleaned and kept in
good condition.
Think about:
- Using the right replacement parts which match the original, eg respirator filters
- Keeping replacement PPE available
- Who is responsible for maintenance and how it is to be done
- Having
a supply of appropriate disposable suits which are useful for dirty
jobs where laundry costs are high, eg for visitors who need protective
clothing
Employees must make proper use of PPE and report its loss or destruction or any fault in it.
- Only use PPE as a last resort
- If
PPE is still needed after implementing other controls (and there will
be circumstances when it is, eg head protection on most construction
sites), you must provide this for your employees free of charge
- You
must choose the equipment carefully (see selection details below) and
ensure employees are trained to use it properly, and know how to detect
and report any faults
