Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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 (RPE). The following is taken from the HSE website.

The Selecting and Using PPE Information Sheet provides a range of useful information, but in summary:

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, e.g. from breathing in contaminated air
  • The head and feet, e.g. from falling materials
  • The eyes, e.g. from flying particles or splashes of corrosive liquids
  • The skin, e.g. from contact with corrosive materials
  • The body, e.g. 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, e.g. 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 – 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, e.g. wearing safety glasses may disturb the seal of a respirator, causing air leaks
  • Instruct and train people how to use it, e.g. 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
  • NOTE:  Under the PPE regulations PPE should be provided for personal use unless it is only used for limited periods and can be properly cleaned to ensure there are no health risks for the next person

Maintenance

PPE must be properly looked after and stored when not in use, e.g. 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, e.g. 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, e.g. for visitors who need protective clothing
  • Ensuring shared PPE (may only be used for limited periods) can be properly cleaned to ensure there are no health risks for the next person

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

Further Information