PPE and “Personal Protective Equipment”
What is PPE?
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. Employers have a responsibility to provide PPE at work, as it is equipment which aims to protect employees against health and safety hazards in the workplace. Examples of PPE include high-vis clothing, eye protectors and goggles, safety helmets, specific footwear and so on.
Why is PPE important?
Ensuring that the workplace is safe not only protects employees from harm, it also protects the employers from possible fines and further legal action. PPE is all part of encouraging people to work safely and responsibly.
Different types of PPE to use
There is a wide range of PPE employers and employees can utilise to make their work environment as safe and legally compliant as possible. For example:
- Whole body – chemical suits, overalls, aprons and overalls can protect employees in certain environments from hazards such as chemicals, heat, penetration, spray and polluted dust.
- Head and neck protections – safety helmets, hairnets and bump caps can protect employees from hair becoming caught in machinery, falling objects, head bumping and climate.
- Eye protection – safety glasses, goggles, visors and face screens can protect employees from dust, chemical splashes, projectiles and gases.
- Foot and leg protection – safety boots and shoes which are penetration-resistant and feature protective toecaps can protect employees from falling objects, vehicles and other heavy loads, as well as different weather conditions.
- Hand and arm protection – Safety gloves, cuffed gloves and sleeves to cover all of the arm can help to protect employees from cuts, bruises, abrasions, electric shocks, and extreme temperatures.
- Ear protection – ear muffs and ear plugs can protect employees from hazards such as extreme noise levels, and a variety of sound levels in combination with being exposed to them for a prolonged amount of time.
- Lungs – respiratory protective equipment, also known as RPE, can protect employees from dust, gases, atmospheres low on oxygen, and vapours.
It is vital for employers to provide their employees with the necessary PPE in order to not only be legally compliant, but also to protect them from various dangers in the workplace. If an employee becomes ill or injured and it is recorded that they were not provided with the vital PPE, the employer could be at risk of a large fine, or even further legal action against their company.
In order to protect employees, if you are unsure about the necessary PPE for your workplace, it may be necessary to have a risk assessment and to seek advice from a health and safety professional about the equipment required in your particular working environment.
OSHCR consultants
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