Feature Health & safety: PPE How to keep PPE compliant


Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a must when working in the manufacturing and industrial sector but to what extent is it taken for granted? Here Dominic Proctor General Manager of Parker Merchanting, a supplier of PPE and site consumables, highlights the importance of regular checks; the tools available to the sector and how engaging with an industry expert can help make the process easier


he Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations define PPE as ‘all equipment which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects them against one or more risks to their health or safety’. Covering a vast array of sectors, the list of work-wear accessories is potentially exhaustive and for many working within industry a potential headache.


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Considering the types of PPE; head protection, respirators, protective gloves, footwear, clothing and eye protection as well as all the variants involved, it’s not hard to see why this might be the case. Then of course is the compliance with individual condi- tions. What’s right for a site in Croydon may be completely unsuit- able for a site in Hull. To help navigate the murky PPE waters, the Health and Safety Executive does provide some simple questions that should be asked of the manufacturer or supplier:


• Is the equipment suitable for the conditions of the job?


• Does the equipment offer the right level of protection for the job? • What sort of training or maintenance is required?


• How do I know when the equipment needs to be replaced?


Specialist distributors such as Parker Merchanting are well placed to offer advice on PPE equipment and its worth consulting with them to ensure impartial advice. While the key princi- ple areas; head, eyes and body may be protected its also important to consider how other safety equipment may interact with them to ensure the right level of protection. For example not all hard hats have integrated ear protection or goggles but these can be specified on request. Ensuring that the varying tools work together seamlessly is essential in order to maintain the safety of workers on site.


Maintenance is a key concern as many users of PPE equipment are unsure how frequently it should be replaced and how to maintain it. This is something that suppliers can help with. While HSE advises the all hats


new product range ideal for manufacturing and general industrial workers. SecureFit Protective Eyewear by 3M is the first range to feature Pressure


New technology transforms safety eyewear E


xtensive scientific research by diversified technology company 3M has led to a ground-breaking development in safety eyewear and the launch of a


Diffusion Temple Technology, designed by 3M to provide noticeably higher levels of personal comfort and security of fit. Incorporating flexible ribs into the temple area of the frame, 3M Pressure


Diffusion Temple Technology allows SecureFit eyewear to self-adjust to the size and shape of the wearer’s head, reducing slippage and movement while in use. It also enhances comfort by dispersing pressure across the temple area. Nikita Shah, technical engineer from the Personal Safety division of 3M, explains: “3M understands how challenging it is to fit a diverse workforce with safety eyewear that provides effective protection and comfort to all. “Our research has shown that 71 per cent of the health and safety officers we surveyed put non-compliance down to


discomfort. 3M undertook comprehensive research into face shapes and sizes throughout the world including detailed digital modelling. The result is the development of Pressure Diffusion Temple Technology which, without the need for any adjustment by the user, helps to diffuse pressure across the temple while holding the frame securely in place for a secure and comfortable fit.”


Featuring a stylish, lightweight design weighing 18g, SecureFit Protective Eyewear is available in three lens colours


(clear, grey or yellow) with anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings. SecureFit Protective Eyewear meets the requirements of EN166:2001 and also absorbs 99.9 per cent of UVA and UVB radiation thanks to its polycarbonate lens. 3M


T: 0870 60 800 60 www.3M.co.uk/safety Factory Equipment OCTOBER 2013 Enter 311


Dominic Proctor, general manager of Parker Merchanting


are replaced within three years of the stated manufacturer date (detailed inside the hat) if the hat is damaged in anyway, protection can be jeopardised. Comfort of equipment should also be questioned and assessed. Needless to say, if employees find equipment comfortable they are more likely to wear it but if there is risk of overheat- ing or tripping this should be a major cause for concern and a solution identified. To ensure continued safety onsite, businesses should consider a risk assessment and review of existing PPE equipment. Many businesses will have stockpiled gloves, boots and hardhats over the years but not all of this may be compliant with the latest regula- tions or even meet the needs of employees. A range review can help ensure businesses are compliant but also through consolidation of supplies ensure the quality and availability of essential PPE is maintained for when its needed most. Taking the pressure off businesses and helping to ensure the safety of employees and compliance with legis- lation has become an essential role for Parker Merchanting.


At a recent site assessment for example, in the food manufacturing sector, employees were provided with disposable gloves as standard. While compliant with Health and Safety, the quality was poor and staff needed to replace them every few hours. As a result of an assessment, the site not only remained safe and compliant but also reduced its costs as the require- ment for gloves fell dramatically. Working with a number of busi- nesses within the manufacturing space, Parker can offer a variety of tools to help make the process of specification and assessment much simpler. Toolbox talks for example help to provide employee training on PPE equipment and other tools of the trade, to help ensure best practice. Helping businesses to understand the legislation and the need for com- pliance is of huge importance but the next step must be helping them to achieve it. With lives and livelihoods potentially in jeopardy it’s imperative to get the basics of PPE right and to ensure employees not only follow the rules but remain vigilant at all times.


Parker Merchanting T: 0113 205 9000 www.parker-direct.com Enter 310


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