Toolbox Talk - 69 Wearing & Caring For PPE

Toolbox talk 69 Wearing and Caring For PPE

69. WEARING AND CARING FOR PPE
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is intended to protect you from risks that cannot be
eliminated or guarded against by other more effective means.
2. Your employer must assess the work you do and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce risks (The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992). If your employer decides that some risk still remains they must provide you with PPE. Some risks are deemed to be always present on building sites, hence separate regulations require ‘hard hats’ to be worn in ‘hard hat areas’ at all times.
3. a You have a duty to wear PPE provided by your employer and they have a duty to ensure you do.
b You must wear and use the PPE in the way it was intended and not be worn back to front – therefore it must fit you. If it does not fit – report it.
c PPE must be suitable for the job in hand and the associated and risk – if it is not – report it.
d PPE must not itself create a new risk – if it does – report it.
e You have a duty to take care of the PPE and not abuse it.
f You have no right to take the PPE off site unless authorised to do so by your employer. PPE must otherwise be returned to the appropriate storage area after use.
g If you are unsure about how to use PPE (e.g. breathing apparatus) ask for training first. You must be adequately trained.
h If there is anything wrong with the PPE provided e.g. worn out, broken, missing, in need of maintenance or cleaning etc, you must report it.
i The Health and Safety Executive provide free advice leaflets on PPE for construction workers. Phone up the local HSE office and ask for them.
j Remember, the law does not expect your employer to be to be psychic, if you know of a problem regarding PPE or a risk that needs guarding against, TELL THEM ABOUT IT.
Note:
Underlined words and phrases indicate a specific mention in the Regulations. Offences against the Regulations are criminal offences and carry heavy fines.

69. WEARING AND CARING FOR PPE

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