Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The law requires personal protective equipment to be provided in the work place. The cost of such equipment cannot be levied on employees.
Personal protective equipment includes the following:
- Overalls
- Footwear
- Eye protection
- Ear Protection
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Wet Weather Clothing
- Dust & Chemical Protection
Personal protective equipment is designed to protect vulnerable parts of the body, remember it is the last source of protection. Some hazards can be eliminated while others can be reduced by the use of proper personal protection. Personal protective equipment must be of the correct standard for the job and must carry a CE stamp and EN number. Great care should be taken when purchasing equipment to make sure it is adequate to give effective protection against the hazard it is protecting one from. Using substandard equipment generally increases exposure to the hazard. Once you have chosen suitable equipment it must be correctly used to give protection and avoid injury.
Before using equipment remember to:
- Inspect PPE before and after use
- Fit, wear and remove PPE correctly
- Maintain and store PPE properly