Hmmm....
Introduction
The main legislation governing Personal Protective Equipment at work is the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPE) 1992. The Management of Heath and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSW) 1999 also control this area. This article explains what sorts of equipment employers should provide as well as the precautions employees need to take in order to stay safe.
The MSHW regulations require employers to identify and assess the risks to health and safety in the workplace. All risks must then minimised as far as possible. Where an activity requires some risk, the risk could be minimised in a number of ways – one of which is to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
Regulation requirements
The requirements are simply that where there is a risk to an employee’s health and or safety, which cannot be controlled in other ways, protective equipment must be supplied (by the employer) and used by the employee carrying out the activity at hand.
The Regulations also require that:
- the equipment is properly assessed before use to ensure suitability
- it is maintained and stored properly
- it is provided with instructions for safe use
- it is used correctly by employees
What is PPE?
Personal protective Equipment (PPE) is “all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety”. This could include helmets, gloves, eye protection, safety harnesses, high-visibility clothing and more.
Hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment are not covered by these regulations. The former is covered by the Noise at Work Regulations. Of course these items must still be compatible with PPE.
Cycle helmets and crash helmets worn by employees on the road are not covered by these regulations. Motor cycle helmets are legally required under road traffic legislation.
Can I charge for using PPE?
No consideration is required by the employee for the use of protective equipment. However, if a term in the employment contract states that the employee must return the equipment, and he does not do so, the employer would then be entitled to deduct a suitable amount from the wages owing to the employee.
Assessment of PPE
The hazard in the work place must first be assessed. Once the exact risks are known, suitable PPE can be selected. Make sure that the equipment does not adversely affect the overall risks of the activity. Make sure that the equipment can be appropriately adjusted to ensure a good fit for the individual who is to wear the equipment. If more than one item of PPE is worn, are they compatible with each other?
Eyes – hazards include chemical or metal splash, dust, gas and vapour and radiation. PPE could include goggles, visors, safety spectacles and face masks.
Head – hazards include impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair entanglements. PPE could include a range of helmets and bump caps.
Breathing – hazards include dust, vapour, gas, oxygen deficient atmospheres. PPE could include air-fed helmets, breathing apparatus, partial or full face masks.
Protection of the body – hazards include extreme temperatures, adverse weather, chemical or metal splash, and contaminated dust. PPE could include disposable or conventional overalls, bodysuits, chain mail, high-visibility clothing.
Hand and arms – hazards incude abrasion, cuts and punctures, electric shock, skin infection. PPE could include gloves, wrist cuffs or armlets.
Face and legs – hazards include wet / damp, falling objects, slipping, abrasion. PPE could include safety boots and shoes, leggings.
I would have thought that your employer had an obligation to provide you with PPE which affords you the relavant protection from 'extremes of temperature' under the Health and Safety at Work regulations - and if the current budget can't run to that, then either the budget needs to be increased or the task re-assessed.