Personal protective equipment is an essential piece of equipment in every workplace. It helps to protect the wearer from health and safety risks at work. All businesses should adhere to safety regulations and provide employees with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This ensures that workers are protected, significantly decreasing the risk of illness and injury and helping to avoid liability issues.
PPE includes items such as safety helmets, safety gloves, safety boots, eye protection, and high-visibility clothing. Although PPE contributes to a significantly safer workplace, approximately 98% of employees have admitted that they have witnessed others not wearing the correct PPE due to a poor fit, lack of accessibility, or a perception that the personal protective equipment provided is unnecessary.
Employers are responsible for selecting the appropriate PPE for the task and the wearer. In order to help you find the right personal protective equipment for your workers, answer a few questions about your work area, any hazardous substances and the task for which PPE is needed. Before you decide on any PPE, you must consider what you’re protecting against and what level of protection is needed. What are your employees going to be exposed to? And will different employees be exposed to different risks? How long will they be exposed to the risk? How you answer these questions will help you choose the right kind of personal protective equipment needed for the job, by outlining the potential hazards.
Exposure to toxic or dangerous substances is more common in workplaces than most people imagine. Dangerous substances at work can cause a wide range of health problems and diseases, as well as posing safety risks. Respiratory protective equipment used at work must be CE marked to ensure that it meets the minimum safety requirements. All employees should receive training on the correct use, fit, care and storage of all necessary PPE. It is also important to check the PPE regularly. Suggest areas that workers should be aware of to keep everyone as safe as possible in the workplace.
At Work & Wear Direct all of our PPE products are high quality and are CE marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations of 2002.
Read our guide on Conducting Risk Assessments at Work for more help and information.
Back to blog
