Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a vital part of health and safety in the workplace. Read on to find out why it is so important.
Importance of PPE
As the name suggests, personal protective equipment is any sort of clothing or equipment designed to protect the wearer from injury or infection.
A lot of jobs in the modern world come with a wide variety of associated hazards and risks, so personal protective equipment works to minimise harm.
The kind of clothing that constitutes personal protective equipment ranges from bump caps and hard hats to hazmat suits and body armour, encompassing safety gear for working at height, disposable respirators and masks for doctors and nurses, and ear protectors for construction workers.
All of this is important, as it helps prevent harm and saves lives. Respirator masks work to stop the spread of diseases like COVID-19. Helmets mitigate the harm caused by impacts to the head. Ear protectors prolong the lifespan of eardrums regularly exposed to loud environments that might otherwise lead to deafness.
In short, the importance of personal protective equipment is in the name: PPE protects the person.
PPE Regulations
As per Health and Safety Executive guidance, employers must protect employees and visitors from any and all risks to health and safety in the workplace. In order to meet UK legislative standards and quality controls, all PPE must:
- Be UKCA or CE marked
- Have a Declaration of Conformity
- Be used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions
- Comply with product supply legislation, which dictates the standards for PPE
It should also be the right PPE for the task. Gardening gloves won’t be much help when working at height, for example; nor would a hard hat be very effective when working around infectious diseases. Determining whether PPE is needed, and what kind of PPE is required, will come as part of a risk assessment carried out before the task is started.
PPE at My Printed Clothing
Here at My Printed Clothing, we stock a wide range of PPE for a variety of tasks. If you have any queries about the products we offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we’ll be only too happy to help.
Buy PPE
