Protective equipment (PPE) at work and this document, explains what you
need to do to meet the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment at
Work Regulations 1992 (as amended).
PPE is defined in the Regulations as ‘all equipment (including clothing
affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or
held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to
his health or safety’, eg safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility
clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses.
Hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment provided for most
work situations are not covered by these Regulations because other
regulations apply to them. However, these items need to be compatible with
any other PPE provided.
Cycle helmets or crash helmets worn by employees on the roads are not
covered by the Regulations. Motorcycle helmets are legally required for
motorcyclists under road traffic legislation.
The main requirement of the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 is that personal
protective equipment is to be supplied and used at work wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways.
is properly assessed before use to ensure it is suitable;
is maintained and stored properly;
is provided with instructions on how to use it safely; and
is used correctly by employees.
An employer cannot ask for money from an employee for PPE, whether it is
returnable or not. This includes agency workers if they are legally regarded as your employees. If employment has been terminated and the employee keeps the PPE without the employer’s permission, then, as long as it has been made clear in thecontract of employment, the employer may be able to deduct the cost of the replacement from any wages owed.
To allow the right type of PPE to be chosen, carefully consider the different hazards in the workplace. This will enable you to assess which types of PPE are suitable to protect against the hazard and for the job to be done.
Ask your supplier for advice on the different types of PPE available and how
suitable they are for different tasks. It may be necessary in a few particularly difficult cases to obtain advice from specialist sources and from the PPE manufacturer. Another useful source of information is the British Safety Industry Federation (
www.bsif.co.uk).
Consider the following when assessing whether PPE is suitable:
Is it appropriate for the risks involved and the conditions at the place where
exposure to the risk may occur? For example, eye protection designed for
providing protection against agricultural pesticides will not offer adequate face
protection for someone using an angle grinder to cut steel or stone.
Does it prevent or adequately control the risks involved without increasing the
overall level of risk?
Can it be adjusted to fit the wearer correctly?
Has the state of health of those who will be wearing it been taken into
account?
What are the needs of the job and the demands it places on the wearer? For
example, the length of time the PPE needs to be worn, the physical effort
required to do the job and the requirements for visibility and communication.
If more than one item of PPE is being worn, are they compatible? For example,
does a particular type of respirator make it difficult to get eye protection to fit
properly?
Eyes
Hazards: chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, radiation.
Options: safety spectacles, goggles, faceshields, visors.
Head
Hazards: impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair
entanglement.
Options: a range of helmets and bump caps.
Breathing
Hazards: dust, vapour, gas, oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
Options: disposable filtering facepiece or respirator, half- or full-face respirators, air-fed helmets, breathing apparatus.
Protecting the body
Hazards: temperature extremes, adverse weather, chemical or metal splash, sprayfrom pressure leaks or spray guns, impact or penetration, contaminated dust,excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing.
Options: conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, specialist protective
clothing, eg chain-mail aprons, high-visibility clothing.
Hands and arms
Hazards: abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals,electric shock, skin infection, disease or contamination.
Options: gloves, gauntlets, mitts, wristcuffs, armlets.
Feet and legs
Hazards: wet, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects,metal and chemical splash, abrasion.
Options: safety boots and shoes with protective toe caps and penetration-resistant mid-sole, gaiters, leggings, spats.
Training
Make sure anyone using PPE is aware of why it is needed, when it is to be
used, repaired or replaced and its limitations.
Train and instruct people how to use it properly and make sure they are doing
this.
Because PPE is the last resort after other methods of protection have been
considered, it is important that users wear it all the time they are exposed to
the risk. Never allow exemptions for those jobs which take ‘just a few minutes’.
Check regularly that PPE is being used and investigate fully any reasons why it
is not. Safety signs can be useful reminders to wear PPE.
Maintenance
Make sure equipment is:
well looked after and properly stored when it is not being used, for example in
a dry, clean cupboard, or in the case of smaller items, such as eye protection,
in a box or case; kept clean and in good repair - follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule (including recommended replacement periods and shelf lives). Simplemaintenance can be carried out by the trained wearer, but more intricate repairs should only be done by specialists.
Make sure suitable replacement PPE is always readily available.
CE marking
Ensure any PPE you buy is ‘CE’ marked and complies with the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002. The CE marking signifies that the PPE satisfies certain basic safety requirements and in some cases will have been tested and certified by an independent body.
Other regulations
The PPE at Work Regulations do not apply where the following six sets of
regulations require the provision and use of PPE against these hazards. For
example, gloves used to prevent dangerous chemicals penetrating the skin would be covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended). The regulations are:
The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.
The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as
amended).
The Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989.
Key points to remember
Are there ways (other than PPE) in which the risk can be adequately controlled,
eg engineering controls? If not, check that:
PPE is provided; it offers adequate protection for its intended use;
those using it are adequately trained in its safe use;
it is properly maintained and any defects are reported;
it is returned to its proper storage after use
