Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

6.3.7 Training and information
Both these topics are important but should not be 
used in isolation. Information includes such items 
as signs, posters, systems of work and general health 
and safety arrangements. Details on the categories 
and design of safety signs are given in Chapter 
17 (Health and Safety [Safety Signs and Signals] 
Regulations 1996).
Figure 6.2
Proper control of gases and vapours in a 
laboratory.

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Principles of control
83
6.3.8 Personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be 
used as a last resort. There are many reasons for this. 
The most important limitations are that PPE:
➤
only protects the person wearing the equipment not 
others nearby
➤
relies on people wearing the equipment at all 
times
➤
must be used properly
➤
must be replaced when it no longer offers the cor-
rect level of protection. This last point is particularly 
relevant when respiratory protection is used.
The benefi ts of PPE are:
➤
it gives immediate protection to allow a job to con-
tinue while engineering controls are put in place
➤
in an emergency it can be the only practicable way 
of effecting rescue or shutting down plant in hazard-
ous atmospheres
➤
it can be used to carry out work in confi ned spaces 
where alternatives are impracticable. But it should 
never be used to allow people to work in dangerous 
atmospheres, which are, for example, enriched with 
oxygen or explosive.
sanitation and washing facilities. There is also a require-
ment to provide eating and rest rooms. Risk control 
may be enhanced by the provision of eye washing and 
shower facilities for use after certain accidents. Within 
this area of welfare, fi rst aid and health surveillance are 
important services that should be available.