FEATURE
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
Neil Hewitt, Divisional Director, Quality and Technical Standard at Arco discusses the unseen risks for your business when using CE marked PPE.
Although we enjoy the benefits of working in one of the safest places in the world, with the lowest incident rates of work related deaths in the EU, there is a gap in the compliance process that is putting UK workers at risk of injury, even though they are using CE-marked Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they believe will protect them.
“AROUND 40% OF NON- METALLIC FOOTWEAR AND 30% OF RIGGER GLOVES FAILED
SURVEILLANCE TESTING, DESPITE CARRYING THE CE MARK.”
As a health and safety manager, you may believe that you and your people are fully protected and compliant when you specify or buy PPE. The reality is that some CE marked PPE is failing, putting wearers at high risk of injury and businesses at risk of reputation damage, fines and even possible imprisonment.
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The evidence is undeniable, particularly in the area of a number of CE marked safety footwear and gloves that are freely available on the UK market. Independent laboratory testing in 2017 showed that around 40% of non-metallic footwear and 30% of rigger gloves failed surveillance testing, despite carrying the CE mark.
This is largely down to manufacturers of PPE swapping materials, safety components and changing processes after receiving the initial CE certificate. This results in a product appearing on the market that does not protect the user from the risks it claims to or may itself be unsafe, as it no longer meets the requirements of the CE marking process. Many safety experts within the UK, including Arco, believe this is down to a lack of governance and independent scrutiny around the CE process.
With around 600,000 workers each year reporting that they have suffered an injury at work, the consequences of failing to apply due diligence to PPE purchasing are huge. Without a robust process in place, accidents
and injuries could be life changing and not just for end users but for the individuals (and the businesses they work for) who are involved in specifying and purchasing the equipment. As well as the legal implications of not getting it right, the reputational damage it can cause to the organisation is likely to affect the morale of the employees.
http://www.knowyourrisk.co.uk/?utm_source=tomorrowshealthandsafety&utm_medium=pr&utm_term=arco_challenger&utm_content=sparkcontent&utm_campaign=
If you are concerned about the risks of failing CE marked PPE leaving you and your business exposed, click here to watch a short film about this important issue to get a clearer understanding of the risk and what you need to know to ensure compliance. Those of us with a responsibility to help shape the safety agenda to make the workplace safer for all, are keen to promote the UK as one of the safest places in the world to work. Therefore, it’s important to realise that CE markings do not guarantee compliance and as an employer or health and safety manager, you have an obligation to ensure that whatever you buy is compliant.
www.arco.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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