Faithful is independently acknowledged to be a leading manufacturer and provider of workwear used in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) applications. For impartial advice on safety garments for your workplace call the PPE Helpline on 0844 375 5604 (UK only).
The following list is an abbreviated extract from the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. The full guide (available from HMSO) should be read for a more complete understanding of the obligations placed upon employers, employees and the self-employed.
There are 11 regulations listed intended to provide workplace safety. Regulations 1-3 are introductory, the rest follow in an abbreviated form.
It is an offence for an employer not to carry out his obligations of workplace safety.Regulation 4 – Provision of personal protective equipment
Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to their employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work, except where, and to the extent that, such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective. Personal protective equipment shall not be suitable unless:
- it is appropriate for the risk or risks involved and the conditions at the place where exposure to the risk may occur;
- it takes account of ergonomic requirements and the state of health of the person or persons who may wear it;
- it is capable of fitting the wearer correctly, if necessary, after adjustments within the range for which it is designed;
- so far as is practicable, it is effective to prevent or adequately control the risk or risks involved without increasing overall risk.
Regulation 5 – Compatibility of personal protective equipment
Every employer shall ensure that where the presence of more than one risk to health or safety makes it necessary for their employee to wear or use simultaneously more than one item of personal protective equipment, such equipment is compatible and continues to be effective against the risk or risks in question.
Regulation 6 – Assessment of personal protective equipment
Before choosing any personal protective equipment which they are required to ensure is provided, an employer shall ensure that an assessment is made to determine whether the personal protective equipment they intends will be provided is suitable. The assessment required should include:
- an assessment of any risk or risks to health or safety which have not been avoided by other means;
- the definition of the characteristics which personal protective equipment must have in order to be effective against the risks referred to, taking into account any risks which the equipment itself may create;
Every employer who is required to ensure that any assessment is made shall ensure that any such assessment is reviewed if:
- there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or
- there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates.
Regulation 7 – Maintenance and replacement of personal protective equipment
Every employer shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to their employees is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
Regulation 8 – Accommodation of personal protective equipment
Where an employer or self-employed person is required, by virtue of regulation 4, to ensure personal protective equipment is provided, they shall also ensure that appropriate accommodation (storage) is provided for that personal protective equipment when it is not being used.
Regulation 9 – Information, instruction and training
Where an employer is required to ensure that personal protective equipment is provided to an employee, the employer shall also ensure that the employee is provided with such information, instruction and training as is adequate and appropriate to enable the employee to know:
- the risk or risks which the personal protective equipment will avoid or limit;
- the purpose for which and the manner in which personal protective equipment is to be used; and
- any action to be taken by the employee to ensure that the personal protective equipment remains in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair
The information and instruction provided shall be adequate and appropriate only if it is comprehensible to the persons to whom it is provided.
Regulation 10 – Use of personal protective equipment
Every employer shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to their employees is properly used.
Every employee shall use any personal protective equipment provided to him in accordance with any training in the use of the personal protective equipment concerned which has been received by him and the instructions respecting that use which have been provided to him.
Every employee who has been provided with personal protective equipment shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is returned to the accommodation provided for it after use.
Regulation 11 – Reporting loss or defect
Every employee who has been provided with personal protective equipment shall report to their employer any loss of or obvious defect in that personal protective equipment.
To ensure that full technical information on fabrics and standards is easily available, Faithful's dedicated PPE Workwear Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0844 375 5604 (UK only, answerphone service outside office hours). Here you will be able to speak to a technical expert who can give you accurate, impartial advice on matters concerning fabrics and standards. If the problem is complex we can also arrange for an on-site visit to assess and help with your problem.