PPE E-Learning

Summary

This section introduces personal protective equipment (PPE), explaining its importance in safeguarding against workplace health and safety risks. It covers various PPE items like helmets, gloves, and safety footwear, highlighting how they protect workers from hazards such as falling materials, flying particles, and extreme temperatures. The video also addresses the relevant legislation, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, and stresses that PPE should be a last resort when other controls fail. Employers are required to provide PPE at no cost to employees, and proper use and maintenance of equipment are emphasized.

Takeaways

• 😀 PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment, which protects workers from health or safety risks.
• 😀 Examples of PPE include safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, safety footwear, high visibility clothing, and safety harnesses.
• 😀 PPE is important even when engineering controls and safe systems are in place, as hazards may still remain.
• 😀 Hazards that PPE helps protect against include respiratory risks, falling materials, eye injuries, corrosive materials, and extreme temperatures.
• 😀 PPE is required to reduce risks to workers in various scenarios to ensure their safety and health.
• 😀 PPE regulations are covered under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, with specific exceptions for hearing and respiratory protective equipment.
• 😀 PPE should be used as a last resort when other safety controls cannot adequately manage risks.
• 😀 Employers are responsible for providing PPE, ensuring it is assessed for suitability, maintained, stored correctly, and used properly by employees.
• 😀 PPE must be assessed for its fit, function, and effectiveness before use.
• 😀 Employers cannot charge employees for PPE, whether it is returnable or not.
• 😀 The next section will focus on how to assess the suitability of PPE for specific work tasks.

Q & A

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

PPE refers to equipment that protects individuals against health or safety risks at work. Examples include safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, safety footwear, high-visibility clothing, and safety harnesses.

Why is PPE important in the workplace?

PPE is important because, even with engineering controls and safe systems in place, some hazards may still remain. PPE helps to protect against risks such as lung damage from inhaling contaminated air, injuries from falling materials, eye injuries from flying particles, skin damage from corrosive substances, and harm from extreme temperatures.

What are some examples of PPE?

Examples of PPE include safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, safety footwear, high-visibility clothing, and safety harnesses.

What risks can PPE protect against?

PPE can protect against a variety of risks, including inhaling harmful air, injuries from falling materials, eye injuries from particles, skin contact with corrosive materials, and body injuries from extreme temperatures.

Which regulations govern the use of PPE?

The provision and safe use of PPE are covered by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, as amended. Specific regulations apply to hearing and respiratory protective equipment.

What do the PPE regulations require from employers?

The regulations require employers to supply PPE, ensure it is properly assessed before use, maintain and store it correctly, provide instructions on its safe use, and ensure that employees use it correctly.

When should PPE be used in the workplace?

PPE should always be used as a last resort, only when there are risks to health and safety that cannot be controlled by other means.

Can an employer charge employees for PPE?

No, employers cannot ask employees to pay for PPE, whether it is returnable or not.

What is the purpose of assessing PPE before use?

Assessing PPE before use ensures that it is fit for purpose, meaning it will effectively protect the user against the identified risks.

What additional training or instructions are required for PPE use?

Employers are required to provide employees with instructions on how to use PPE safely, ensuring that it is worn and maintained correctly to maximize its protective function.