Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:53

All employers have a duty to ensure that every employee has the most effective workwear and corporate clothing to perform their jobs safely and efficiently. This includes employees using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in particularly hazardous tasks. Therefore, the government has created a short guide which documents what employers must do to ensure that they are operating to optimum workwear standards. The Health and Safety Executive-produced guide covers the recommendations and requirements of the 1992 Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations. This piece of legislation covers everything surrounding workwear which is defined as:"All equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety."This includes eye protection, safety helmets, safety footwear, safety harnesses, gloves, aprons, lab coats and high vis clothing. However, effective hearing protection and respiratory protective workwear is not covered as this is dealt with by separate legislation. Cycle or motorcycle helmets worn by employees on the road are also not covered in the regulations. The core requirement of the PPE at Work Regulations is that effective corporate clothing such as ladies overall and cargo trousers must be supplied and utilised wherever there is an undue hazard or risk to health and safety. Therefore, personal protective equipment must be properly assessed to ensure that it is suitable to the task and must also be stored and maintained correctly to prolong its effectiveness. Moreover, work coats and overalls must be accompanied with the right instructions for employees on how it should be used safely and correctly. Consulting with suppliers of high vis jackets and aprons is advisable when selecting the correct type of personal protective equipment. The British Safety Industry Federation (BISF) can also advise on the most effective lab coats and aprons for each particular task. The main point employers must consider is balancing the comfort and adjustability of the corporate clothing for users against the dangers presented by the job they are doing. The main areas of risk are borne by: Eyes, which can be protected with eye goggles, visors or faceshields, the Head, which hats and helmets can protect, Breathing, which is where respirators or breathing apparatus are effective, the Body, which can be covered in a work coat, overall and cargo trouser, and the Feet and Hands, which can be covered by gloves and work shoes. The guide also stresses the importance of effective training to inform employees why effective workwear is required and how to use it properly. This should be backed up by regular inspections to ensure that the regulations are being maintained. Safety signs are an important tool in this regard, alongside regular safety checks on the quality of the cargo trousers, overalls and aprons. It is also important that all workwear carries the CE marking which denotes that it meets certain basic safety requirements. More regulations are contained in the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended), the Noise at Work Regulations 1998 and the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989. All of these pieces of legislation ensure that workwear and corporate clothing enables employees to work effectively and safely at all times.