In order to protect both your employees and your business, it’s essential for you to ensure that your company complies with the regulations surrounding health and safety. As well as exercising a decent helping of common sense, this requires members of your company to research what is asked of them by law.
In a number of industries, there are clear and strict guidelines which highlight the necessary protective items – commonly referred to as Personal Protective Equipment or PPE.
Ensuring that your employees’ equipment is up to the job is not simply a legal matter, but a moral one. Particularly for those working in the fields of manufacturing, agriculture and construction, the equipment provided for employees is extremely importance in ensuring their work environment is safe and fit for purpose.
Here, we take a look at five ways to ensure your workplace environment is PPE compliant.
1. Assess the risks
Risk assessment is an essential component of looking at safety in the workplace. Before you begin, it’s important to check that you have a member of staff who is adequately trained for the procedure and the procedure should enable you to recognise the risks posed within your working environment.
The full risk assessment guidelines can be found on the website of the Health and Safety Executive.
A thorough understanding of potential risks will place you in a better position from which to judge what equipment is necessary to keeping your employees safe.
2. Train your employees
One of the most important contributors to workplace safety lies in the training of your employees. This is not only in relation to carrying out tasks such as risk assessment but should be an everyday consideration.
Your employees should be trained to such a level that allows them to identify and report potential hazards. They should also be fully aware of the proper ways in which to act under certain circumstances. Particularly in manufacturing and construction environments, it is essential that employees are able to recognise and report faults with machinery which could ultimately pose a threat to themselves or other employees.
Employees should also be provided with ample and clear instruction on how to use any PPE which is provided to them with their work. Refresher training should also be provided periodically so that all employers are reminded of the protocols they need to follow as part of their role.
3. Keep equipment up-to-date
Just because your business may have been in compliance with government directives at one point, does not guarantee they still are today. It’s inevitable that equipment should see some wear and tear throughout its life and it’s the responsibility of you as the employer to see that all equipment is monitored and repaired or replaced when necessary.
Maintaining the condition of equipment can be a tough task but one which can be made a good deal easier by raising awareness with your employees. Encourage regular feedback from employees with regard to safety equipment and ensure that complaints and comments are dealt with swiftly and effectively.
4. Follow clear guidelines
Safety in the workplace is essential and it follows that there are clear and easily accessible resources which can help you make it a reality. You need a great resource like the e-book below which covers all aspects of PPE with an aim of helping businesses do all the necessary footwork to put the proper safety precautions in place.
Not only does the e-book cover all the basics, but it also includes some industry specific information for some of those who are likely to be most at risk. From construction and agriculture to retail, you can be sure it will provide your business with important information regarding health and safety in the workplace.
Download your free copy of the e-book ‘The Ultimate Guide to Ensuring Your Workplace is PPE Complaint’ by following the link.
5. Check the law
Health and safety regulation can be complex at times, making it difficult for businesses to know precisely where they stand. The good news is that the original item of legislation is available online. This can allow you and your worked to run checks on specific elements of the law about which you are unsure.
Where an individual remains unsure about the legal requirements, even after consulting the specific legislation, it is always advisable to err on the side of caution. Health and safety is a matter which is taken very seriously by legal enforcement teams and with good reason.
Businesses of all kinds should allow space for the proper investment in PPE to ensure their employees are safe throughout the working day and this means seeking help understanding legislation wherever necessary.
It’s important for companies to note that PPE outlined by law is a basic requirement. This means not only that it is necessary but that companies are able to go above and beyond the stated measures in an attempt to further protect their employees.
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Francesca Holmes
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- Is your workplace PPE compliant? Five ways to find out! - January 27, 2014