Employers have duties concerning the provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work for their employees. PPE is equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (R).
Case Study
A commercial gardener was using a petrol-driven
strimmer to trim undergrowth. He hit a piece of unseen debris, which was thrown
into the air and caught him in the eye. He lost the sight in that eye because
he was not wearing protective goggles, which was advised in the manufacturer's
written instructions for using the strimmer.
How similar accidents can be prevented
Ensure those operating strimmers are trained to
recognize the hazards posed by unseen debris and wear appropriate PPE,
including protective goggles.
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 eyes, eg from flying
particles or splashes of corrosive liquids the skin, eg from contact with
corrosive materials
the body, eg from extremes of heat or cold PPE
is needed in these cases to reduce the risk.
What do I have to do?
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
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.
Monitor and review
Check regularly that PPE is used. If it isn’t,
find out why not
Safety signs can be a useful reminder that PPE
should be worn
Take note of any changes in equipment,
materials and methods – you may need to update what you provide
Types of PPE you can use
Eyes Hazards
Chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles,
gas and vapour, radiation
Options
Safety spectacles, goggles, face screens, face shields, visors
Safety spectacles, goggles, face screens, face shields, visors
Note
Make sure the eye protection chosen has the right combination of impact/dust/splash/molten metal eye protection for the task and fits the user properly
Make sure the eye protection chosen has the right combination of impact/dust/splash/molten metal eye protection for the task and fits the user properly
Head and neck Hazards
Impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair getting tangled in machinery, chemical drips or splash, climate or temperature
Impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair getting tangled in machinery, chemical drips or splash, climate or temperature
Options
Industrial safety helmets, bump caps, hairnets and firefighters' helmets
Industrial safety helmets, bump caps, hairnets and firefighters' helmets
Note
Some safety helmets incorporate or can be
fitted with specially-designed eye or hearing protection
Don't forget neck protection, eg scarves for
use during welding
Replace head protection if it is damaged
Ears Hazards
Noise – a combination of sound level and duration of exposure, very high-level sounds are a hazard even with short duration
Noise – a combination of sound level and duration of exposure, very high-level sounds are a hazard even with short duration
Options
Earplugs, earmuffs, semi-insert/canal caps
Earplugs, earmuffs, semi-insert/canal caps
Note
Provide the right hearing protectors for the
type of work, and make sure workers know how to fit them
Choose protectors that reduce noise to an
acceptable level, while allowing for safety and communication
Hands and arms Hazards
Abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals, electric shock, radiation, vibration, biological agents and prolonged immersion in water
Abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals, electric shock, radiation, vibration, biological agents and prolonged immersion in water
Options
Gloves, gloves with a cuff, gauntlets and sleeving that covers part or all of the arm
Gloves, gloves with a cuff, gauntlets and sleeving that covers part or all of the arm
Note
Avoid gloves when operating machines such as
bench drills where the gloves might get caught
Some materials are quickly penetrated by
chemicals – take care in selection, see HSE’s skin at work website
Barrier creams are unreliable and are no
substitute for proper PPE
Wearing gloves for long periods can make the
skin hot and sweaty, leading to skin problems. Using separate cotton inner
gloves can help prevent this
Feet and legs Hazards
Wet, hot and cold conditions, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, heavy loads, metal and chemical splash, vehicles
Wet, hot and cold conditions, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, heavy loads, metal and chemical splash, vehicles
Options
Safety boots and shoes with protective toecaps and penetration-resistant, mid-sole wellington boots and specific footwear, eg foundry boots and chainsaw boots
Safety boots and shoes with protective toecaps and penetration-resistant, mid-sole wellington boots and specific footwear, eg foundry boots and chainsaw boots
Note
Footwear can have a variety of sole patterns
and materials to help prevent slips in different conditions, including oil- or
chemical-resistant soles. It can also be anti-static, electrically conductive
or thermally insulating
Appropriate footwear should be selected for the
risks identified
Lungs Hazards
Oxygen-deficient atmospheres, dusts, gases and
vapours
Options – respiratory protective equipment
(RPE)
Some respirators rely on filtering contaminants
from workplace air. These include simple filtering face pieces and respirators
and power-assisted respirators
Make sure it fits properly, eg for
tight-fitting respirators (filtering face pieces, half and full masks)
There are also types of breathing apparatus
which give an independent supply of breathable air, eg fresh-air hose,
compressed airline and self-contained breathing apparatus
Note
The right type of respirator filter must be
used as each is effective for only a limited range of substances
Filters have only a limited life. Where there
is a shortage of oxygen or any danger of losing consciousness due to exposure
to high levels of harmful fumes, only use breathing apparatus – never use a
filtering cartridge
You will need to use breathing apparatus in a
confined space or if there is a chance of an oxygen deficiency in the work area
If you are using respiratory protective
equipment, look at HSE’s publication Respiratory protective
equipment at work: A practical guide
Whole body Hazards
Heat, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, contaminated dust, impact or penetration, excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing
Heat, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, contaminated dust, impact or penetration, excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing
Options
Conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, aprons, chemical suits
Conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, aprons, chemical suits
Note
The choice of materials includes
flame-retardant, anti-static, chain mail, chemically impermeable, and
high-visibility
Don't forget other protection, like safety
harnesses or life jackets.
Emergency equipment
Careful selection, maintenance and regular and
realistic operator training is needed for equipment for use in emergencies,
like compressed-air escape breathing apparatus, respirators and safety ropes or
harnesses.
Reference:
Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm
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