Introduction to Fire Safety Management 386
to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects them against one or more risks to their health and safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective. The following items are not included in this defi nition:
➤
Ordinary working clothing and uniform which do not
specifi cally protect the health and safety of the user
➤
An offensive weapon used as self-defence or as a
deterrent weapon
➤
Portable devices for detecting and signalling risks
and nuisances
➤
PPE used for protection while travelling on the road
➤
Equipment used during the playing of competitive
sports.
Where existing regulations (covering lead, ionising radia-
tions, asbestos, hazardous substances, noise and head
protection) apply, the PPE Regs do not apply with the
exception of regulation 5 (compatibility) although the
general principles covering selection and maintenance
will still be of relevance.
In summary, the PPE Regs require:
➤
Employers to ensure that suitable PPE is provided
to their employees who may be exposed to risks to
their health and safety except where the risks have
been adequately controlled by other means which
are equally or more effective (the same duty applies
to the self-employed in relation to risks to their own
health and safety). In selecting suitable PPE, it must:
➤
Be appropriate for the risks involved, the condi-
tions where it is used and the period for which it
is worn
➤
Take account of ergonomic requirements, the
health of the user and the characteristics of the
user workstation
➤
Be capable of fi tting the wearer correctly
➤
So far as is practicable, be effective at prevent-
ing or adequately controlling the risks involved
without increasing the overall risk
➤
Comply with UK legislation covering design and
manufacture (CE marking)
➤
Be for personal use only where necessary to
ensure it is hygienic
➤
Where there is more than one risk to health and
safety for which PPE is used, the employer (and
self-employed person) must ensure that the PPE
required is compatible and remains effective
➤
Before selecting PPE, the employer (and self-
employed person) must ensure that an assessment
is made to determine if the PPE they intend to pro-
vide is suitable. This assessment should follow on
from the risk assessment carried out in accordance
with the MHSW Regs and should include:
➤
An assessment of the health and safety risks
which have not been avoided by other means
➤
The characteristics the PPE must have to be
effective against both these risks and any cre-
ated by the use of the PPE itself
➤
A comparison of the characteristics of the PPE
available with the above characteristics
➤
An assessment of compatibility with other PPE
in use
➤
A review of the assessment if there is reason to
suspect it may no longer be valid or if there has
been a signifi cant change
➤
The employer (and self-employed person) must
ensure that any PPE they provide is maintained
(including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an
effi cient working state, in effi cient working order and
in good repair
➤
Where PPE is provided, the employer (and self-
employed person) must ensure that appropriate
accommodation is also provided for the PPE when
it is not in use
➤
The employer must provide their employees with
such information, instruction and training as is ade-
quate and appropriate (including demonstrations in
wearing the PPE) to enable the employees to know:
➤
The risks which the PPE will avoid or limit
➤
The purpose for and manner in which the PPE
should be used
➤
Any action the employee needs to take to
ensure the PPE remains effi cient and effective
➤
Employers must take reasonable steps to ensure
that PPE they provide to their employees is properly
used (the self-employed have the same duty in rela-
tion to PPE they provide for themselves)
➤
Employees are required to:
➤
Use any PPE they are provided with as per their
training and instruction
➤
Return it to the accommodation provided for it
after use
➤
Report any loss or obvious defect in the PPE to
their employer.
