Whilst The Council takes reasonable precautions to reduce exposure to any workplace hazards, there may still be a need for us to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to our staff and others. This will occur where some risks remain that can’t otherwise be controlled.

Where provision of PPE is necessary, the type, style and level of protection will be determined by the task and in consultation with relevant staff to help ensure that we obtain the most suitable PPE for our employee’s needs and we don’t waste money on equipment that is uncomfortable, unsuitable or which is a poor quality or fit.

The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (PPER) 1992 places a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that suitable PPE is provided to ‘employees’ who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.

PPER 2022 extends this duty to limb (b) workers and came into force on 6 April 2022. There is guidance explaining the changes.

PPE is defined in the PPER 1992 as ‘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 the person against one or more risks to that person’s health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective’.

Provision of PPE will comply with product supply legislation and PPE standards.

Under these regulations, employees and workers as defined, do not have to pay for any PPE issued to them.

Service Managers will ensure that suitable PPE is:

• Provided conforming to the standards outlined above (products must be chosen which are UKCA marked (or CE marked in specific circumstances). PPE should also have a Declaration of Conformity and instructions on how to use the item.
• The selection of protective clothing and equipment will take account of the quality of the product, the suitability, fit (if appropriate) and compatibility.
• Procedures are in place to ensure that the PPE is inspected, maintained and replaced/renewed as required.
• Adequate storage for PPE is provided to protect it from contamination, loss, or damage and periodic inspections to ensure PPE is stored correctly.
• Ensure that all employees provided with PPE will be given information instruction and training as is adequate to enable them to know how to use the PPE safely.
• Registers of PPE and persons issued with it will be maintained in service areas.

Employees/workers have a duty to ensure that PPE is:

• Properly assessed before use to make sure it is fit for purpose;
• Maintained and stored properly;
• Provided with instructions on how to use it safely;
• Used correctly;
• If the PPE provided is lost or becomes defective, the worker must report this to their Supervisor/Line Manager or person in charge of the works and must not undertake the task until suitable PPE is available.

When assessing a risk, the Council’s risk assessment process must be used and the hierarchy of controls system must be considered first:

Hierarchy of controls

PPE should be regarded as the last resort to protect against risks to health and safety.

Risk controls should be considered in the following order, with elimination being the most effective and PPE being the least effective:

• Elimination – physically remove the hazard;
• Substitution – replace the hazard;
• Engineering controls - isolate people from the hazard;
• Administrative controls – change the way people work;
• PPE – protect the worker with personal protective equipment.

There must be no difference in the way PPE is provided to our workers, as defined by PPER 2022. This means assessing the risk and ensuring suitable PPE is provided, when needed, to all people that fall under the definition of worker.

The PPE provided must be compatible, maintained and correctly stored. All workers must use the PPE properly following training and instruction in its use.

Items such as safety shoes will be provided to employees on a personal basis.  However, certain items of PPE may be shared by employees and stored centrally, for example where it is only required for limited periods e.g. eye googles. When shared, employers should ensure such equipment is properly cleaned and, where required, decontaminated to ensure there are no health risks to the next person using it.

When use of PPE is required, staff will be required to follow service arrangements as communicated by their Manager.

When a risk assessment indicates that PPE is required, the right type of PPE must be selected by managers and supervisors in conjunction with those carrying out the task.  Managers and supervisors are responsible to ensure PPE is provided for their staff members and where appropriate others within the remit of their responsibility (e.g. visitors).  This section explains how to do that.

Eyes

Hazards to the eyes include chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour or radiation.

PPE options include safety spectacles, goggles, face screens, face shields and visors.

The PPE chosen must have the right combination of eye protection against various hazards of impact, dust, splash or molten metal.  It should also be appropriate for the task and fit the user properly.

Head and neck

Hazards to the head and neck include falling or flying objects, risk of banging the head, hair getting tangled in machinery, chemical drips or splash, climate or extreme temperatures.

PPE options include safety helmets, bump caps and hairnets.  Some safety helmets incorporate or can be fitted with specially designed eye or hearing protection.  Don't forget neck protection, for example, during welding.

Always replace head protection if it is damaged.

Ears

Hazards to the ears from noise come from a combination of sound level and duration of exposure.  Very high-level sounds are a hazard even with short duration.

PPE options include earplugs, earmuffs or semi-insert/canal caps.

The right hearing protectors must be provided for the type of work.  It is important to remember that different noise levels will require different levels of protection to the worker, therefore protectors must be selected that reduce noise to an acceptable level, while allowing for safety and communication.

Hands and arms

Hazards to the hands and arms include abrasion, temperature, cuts, impact, chemicals, electric shock, radiation, biological agents or prolonged immersion in water.

PPE options are gloves (including gloves with a cuff), gauntlets and sleeving that covers part or all of the arm.  When selecting gloves, the correct level of protection e.g. cut or puncture resistance must be provided.

Avoid gloves when operating machines such as bench drills where they might get caught.

Barrier creams are not a substitute for proper PPE.  Using separate cotton inner gloves can help prevent skin problems from wearing gloves for long periods.  Choose gloves made from materials that are not quickly penetrated by chemicals.  There is more guidance on skin at work.

Feet and legs

Hazards to the feet and legs include temperature, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts, falling objects, heavy loads, metal and chemical splash or being struck by a vehicle.

PPE options include penetration-resistant safety boots and shoes with protective toecaps or specific footwear, for example foundry boots and chainsaw boots.

Select appropriate footwear for the risks.  It can have a variety of sole patterns and materials to help prevent slips in different conditions, including oil or chemical-resistant soles. It can also be anti-static, electrically conductive or thermally insulating.

Lungs

Hazards to the lungs include oxygen-deficient atmospheres, dusts, gases or vapours.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) options include respirators which rely on filtering contaminants from workplace air.  These can be simple filtering face pieces and respirators or power-assisted respirators.  Some RPE may be face fitted.

Some types of RPE give an independent supply of breathable air, for example fresh-air hose, compressed airline and self-contained breathing apparatus.

There is detailed guidance on RPE, including how to make sure it fits properly.

Whole body

Hazards to the whole body include heat, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, contaminated dust, impact or penetration.

PPE options include safety harnesses, life jackets, conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, aprons and chemical suits.  Where it is needed, choose material that is flame-retardant, anti-static, chain mail, chemically impermeable or high visibility.

Emergency equipment 

Careful selection and maintenance and regular operator training is needed for equipment to use in emergencies, such as compressed-air escape breathing apparatus, respirators and safety ropes or harnesses.

Further information on using PPE to control risks at work can be found from the HSE.

Where a need for PPE has been identified, all employees are expected to use it whilst working with a particular process or in a certain area. Employees are also expected to use and maintain any PPE issued to them in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If any defects are found, they should be reported to the relevant supervisor/manager as soon as possible.

Where necessary, the employee’s manager or supervisor will provide instruction, information and training, by a competent person, on how to use and look after PPE.  This will include how to obtain it if it isn’t issued on a personal basis, and the process for reporting any suspected defects.