PPE
Sponsored by British Safety Industry Federation
EXPOSING THE COST OF IGNORANCE
the pandemic is four years behind us, it’s fair to say the UK still has a PPE problem. The latest financial disclosures
from the Department of Health and Social Care revealed nearly £10bn was squandered on defective or unusable personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic. This alarming revelation is compounded by the ongoing investigation into the procurement of PPE contracts, with the National Audit Office still grappling to recover millions lost to fraud.
Unfortunately, the longstanding issue of neglecting rules in the procurement of PPE is nothing new. Coupled with insufficient official market oversight in the UK, this has facilitated the entry of substandard and non-compliant products into circulation, endangering unsuspecting users. The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) advocates for enhanced proficiency in PPE procurement, aiming not only to elevate safety standards significantly but also to prevent potential future crises.
“NEARLY £10BN WAS SQUANDERED ON DEFECTIVE OR UNUSABLE PPE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.”
To the untrained, PPE is a complex and confusing purchase. This is well documented throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with millions consistently awarded to substandard manufacturers. At the height of the pandemic for example, a contract was given to a company which specialises in currency trading and offshore property to deliver 50m face masks which were found to be unusable, despite being part of a £252m contract. It was also reported that just a small percentage of 400,000 gowns ordered from a Turkish T-shirt manufacturer arrived in good time – even though the Royal Air Force were sent to collect them – and when they did, they too were said to be unusable. While these figures are staggering, the cost of the potential threat to health and safety from the use of substandard PPE is even more devastating, albeit more difficult to measure.
Under the PPE at work regulations anyone in charge of buying PPE and safety equipment has a responsibility
32 | Tomorrow’s Health & Safety Yearbook 2024/25
British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) CEO, Alan Murray discusses the pressing need for greater competency in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE). While the peak of
to select appropriate, certified and compliant products that meet workers’ specific requirements.
Due diligence is vital. Buyers must assess the extent to which a product is fit for purpose. They should also look for wearer benefits above and beyond basic protection and make sure it fits comfortably so that it performs correctly. They must also determine whether it is compatible with other PPE that may be required. Yet many people responsible for PPE procurement are not fully aware of their responsibilities or lack the resources to fulfil them.
79% OF PPE FROM NON-REGISTERED
PROVIDERS FAILED TESTS The volume of substandard and non-compliant products on the market is showing no signs of abating. While the pandemic shone a light on this critical issue, it is still an enormous problem. The BSIF routinely tests a wide range of PPE and safety equipment available across the board, to better understand where these problems lie. In doing so, the BSIF can help to ensure that costly mistakes are avoided, helping to improve the overall standard of PPE and safety equipment available.
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