PPE equipment at work

[scoobydoo]

Where would be the best place to check on the employment law regarding the enforcement of using PPE at work. We have signed statements from employees confirming the equipment that has been issued and the jobs that they know they must be used for. but our biggest customer (60% of our sales) say they need evidence that we do force our staff to use such equipment at all time. On some sites it indicates that this is not a legal requirement and in fact the emphasis should be on eliminating the risk in the first place? So I am a bit confused.

thanks.

[Eloise01]

Re: PPE equipment at work

I am not surprised you are confused - I cannot fathom what your customer is getting at. Your legal duty is to ensure the health and safety of your employees by providing them with the training and equipment suitable to the job, by ensuring appropriate risk assessments are done and that managers appropriately monitor employees and situations to ensure compliance. But I am not sure how you can demonstrate that you force your employees to do what they must - employees, under the legislation, have an equal duty to protect their own health and safety.

I think the only possible answer to this is to ask the customer what evidence would be acceptable to them, since you already comply with all the legal requirements (assuming you do, of course).

[scoobydoo]

Re: PPE equipment at work

yes we do. We have a H&S policy (recently updated), regular H&S meetings and ongoing assessments , all documented. We are actually audited by this customer every year to ensure we are a "suitable supplier" and this is to come up in the audit( if you lose points you can be removed as a supplier) .What you have said is what I thought , of course we would remind employees if we saw something obviously not being used, but if they chose say not to wear goggles when soldering I do not see how we can force them unless we make it a disciplinary offence. Forewarned is forearmed so I will gather as much info as I can in our defence. thank you for your reply.

[Eloise01]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Well if someone refused to wear goggles when soldering, I would make it a disciplinary offence! In fact, it would be anyway - they are breaking the law by endangering their own safety! And such an action leaves them and you vulnerable. Obviously, you would have to know about it, but if you did, you would also have to take action over it. If that is what the customer means by "forcing" then I agree with them. But employees are not always "in sight", and there is little you can do about that.

[CleverClogs]

Re: PPE equipment at work

I would refuse - on safety grounds - to wear goggles when soldering; I find that goggles mist up quite quickly and I like to see where the soldering iron might be. Safety glasses do not mist up, but any pressure on my head behind my ears will give me a severe headache within a minute or two.

Hence, I would insist on using a transparent, full face screen, such as may be used by people making knives or chisels; it does not mist up and, as the head band does not apply pressure behind my ears, it is comfortable to wear. It also provides much better protection from spatter.

[scoobydoo]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Thanks

that is a really good idea - I will look into that - especially as it is very delicate soldering on small circuit boards.

[Eloise01]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Since I have never soldered anything in my life I bow to CleverClogs superior knowledge of soldering and facial protection. But the point remains that I would view it a disciplinary offence to refuse to observe H&S requirements. An argument such as that put here might be mitigation to let someone off without a warning (although I would expect them to have been grown up enough to point such an issue out before they got into a disciplinary - surely if it suits them better and it is better for production, then that would be sensible?) - but perhaps if (a) the don't know it is a disciplinary offence to break the law, you should make it clear and (b) if your workers don't talk to you about what would improve their working lives and your productivity, perhaps you have an issue to resolve in workplace relations?

[scoobydoo]

Re: PPE equipment at work

probably both are true. Have only just completed a management buy out and the previous MD did not really complete all the criteria for having a "robust " H&S policy that was enforced . So this is all new ground to the new management - but we are doing our best to tie up all the loose ends . So all advice is appreciated . We are just drawing up new documents regarding PPE with some updated information - so we will make the employees responsibilities clear and the possible consequences. We have also started weekly meetings so they can themselves raise any H&S issues. Hopefully this will cover what our customer wants for us to win "points" as well.

[CleverClogs]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Since I have never soldered anything in my life I bow to CleverClogs superior knowledge of soldering and facial protection.

To be accurate, my experience is in wood turning and metal work (turning and milling) - but I always wear a protective face screen of some sort in my own workshop. It's generally easier to keep debris from one's eyes than it is to use a burnt matchstick to remove a splinter of wood or a fragment of metal swarf.

If I'm using an angle grinder or other noisy equipment, I'll also wear ear plugs and/or hearing defenders.

It's just common sense, really.

[des8]

Re: PPE equipment at work

...and I was shocked to be told by my doctor that when welding squinting was not sufficient protection to avoid arc eye

[CleverClogs]

Re: PPE equipment at work

...and I was shocked to be told by my doctor that when welding squinting was not sufficient protection to avoid arc eye

Are you crazy?

It might be less than easy to see the weld through the safety visor, but it is surely better not to be able to see the weld as it develops than not being able to see afterwards!

[des8]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Sorry CC.... I didn't think irony would be wasted on you of all people!

[CleverClogs]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Sorry CC.... I didn't think irony would be wasted on you of all people!

I have heard such nonsense before!

It might be OK for forge welding, brazing or gas welding, but for electric arcs proper visors are essential.

[des8]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Of course you're quite right, and joking apart my first employment was with a Lloyd's Insurance broker and I saw some horrific personal accident claims because people had not bothered with protective gear. Went on to cabinet making and like you always wear full face protection where appropriate; never guide wood in the bandsaw with fingers; when chainsaw comes out so do the chaps, gloves, visor etc; welding is with an auto darkening visor and never ever slide under the old cars when they're up only on a jack.

[Sapphire]

Re: PPE equipment at work

Years ago when sunlamps became popular I bought one, at the time they came with the little goggles that left you with white eyes, not a good look. So in my stupidity (well I was only 18 or so at the time), I left the goggles off, that night I woke up in horrendous pain and was screaming, my parents rushed into my room, rang an ambulance and I was carted off to hospital, yes you guessed it I had arc eyes, I have never known pain like it, plus I was bandaged and lost my sight for a few days.
I never, ever want to go through that ever again.