Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Buy the right personal protective equipment
Guide
Before purchasing any personal protective equipment (PPE), you need to carry out a health and safety risk assessment.
Under PPE laws you may need to provide:
- protective clothing, eg aprons, gloves, footwear, helmets, high-visibility waistcoats and clothing which gives protection against the weather
- protective equipment, eg eye protectors, respirators and safety harnesses
PPE equipment or clothing must be:
- appropriate to the risks and workplace conditions
- suitable for the ergonomics and state of health of the employee
- capable of fitting the wearer correctly, eg helmets with adjustable chin straps
- CE marked to meet the standards set out in the regulations
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is one organisation that can give a CE mark to show that a product meets the requirements of all relevant European Union directives. It can also give a Kitemark - its own quality mark - to equipment such as respiratory masks.
What should I check?
Check that all equipment is compatible and suitable for all the jobs it's needed for. A supplier should be able to advise you on the suitability of equipment.
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HSENI Helpline0800 032 0121
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