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Chapter 20 PPE - Personal Protective Equipment

PPE is the last thing we consider in our risk assessment before that we must look at : elimination or substitution : Controls - either administrative or engineering : if after looking at these, the only way of bringing the Risk down to acceptable levels is PPE, then we must look at the protective equipment we are going to provide.

The legislation involved is PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992 which came into force on 1 January 1994 and like the rest of the recent legislation requires us to RISK ASSESS.

There are certain main points we must consider

PPE is issued and worn depending on the circumstances of use :

• It is important to consider comfort when issuing PPE - If the operator is wearing PPE for 15 minutes, this is NOT the same as if the PPE is to be worn for 8 hours. strain and heat stress must be considered as part of the assessment.

PERSONAL means issued to the individual for his use only - only if it is unreasonable to consider individual PPE should PPE be shared.

• the employee should be given a place to store his protective equipment when not in use.
  • This can be individual lockers but could also be individual hooks in a protective clothing store.
  • The hooks would have to be far enough apart not to cross-contaminate
  • the hooks large or numerous enough to carry all the clothing.
  • he should also be given clean storage space for his normal clothing whilst PPE is in use.

ALL PPE must PROTECT in the circumstances of use.

• the new equipment will carry a CE mark and detail what it can be used to protect against
• Cost of all protective equipment is the responsibility of the employer.
• Employer is expected to carry out a RISK ASSESSMENT on the PPE used and keep records.

DISPOSABLE PPE

There are advantages in giving out disposable PPE

• no cleaning problems.
• no records of use need be kept.
• no storage of cleaned PPE.

The disadvantage is that it is expensive, but if only used occasionally it may be cost effective.

Let us consider the common PPE Groundsmen wear:

HARD HAT

If anything is liable to fall on, or projectile liable to hit, an operator then the operator should wear a hard hat. The hard hats can protect against a stated impact - but will usually have a ' use by' date - usually 5 years but see your manufacturers instructions.

COVERALL with hood

Usually used against pesticides - if used for this purpose should only be used for pesticides.

WATERPROOFS

Used to work in adverse weather conditions - if used for this purpose should not be used for pesticide application.

GLOVES

Different uses require different specification e.g.

• pesticide application.
• pruning roses.
• using chainsaw.
• cleaning up Rat remains/ excreta.

..

WELLINGTON BOOTS

Usually extending to just below the knee and used NOT turned down.

TOE-PROTECTED BOOTS

Used in any case that it is possible damage to toes could occur e.g.

• use of pedestrian rotary mower
• use of tractor & equipment

CHAINSAW BOOTS

Used when using chainsaw to protect the leg below the knee.

• spats are no longer recommended as it appears they are clumsy and liable to make the operator trip

• They can also on occasion expose an area around ankle

LEGGINGS

These are used in different circumstances to protect against different hazards

• Pesticides - used over the disposable coverall if legs of operator are liable to get wet.
• Chainsaw - used to protect operator below the waist
• Strimmer - used to protect operator from strimmed material

FACE SHIELD

Usually used for pesticide use

FACE VISOR

Used for use of strimmer

RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT RPE

FACE MASK or RESPIRATOR

Usually to protect against

• dust
• organic vapours
  • You must ensure that the RPE protects the operator - a dust mask will give no protection for pesticide sprays/ an organic vapour mask will give only limited protection against dust. Some manufacturers are now incorporating both in the one mask or respirator.

EAR DEFENDERS EAR PLUGS.

Used to protect operator against noise

• chainsaw
• strimmer
• some mowers
• other 2-stroke equipment

I have spoken about this before. It is law that suitable ear protection : ear plugs or ear defenders - are given above a noise level of 90 dB - to bring the noise heard by the operator down below 85 dB when in use. This is called noise attenuation. I have been in discussion with various chainsaw manufacturers and they have made it clear that they provide ear defenders to protect against their make of chainsaw. They will not guarantee that their ear defenders can be used for other makes of chainsaw. Thus a 'good chainsaw' manufacturer may have brought the levels of noise from their chainsaw down to 105 dB - their ear defenders only have to have an attenuation of 20 dB. The 'bad chainsaw may have a noise level of 115 dB - these ear defenders will NOT provide adequate protection. A noise assessment may be required.

RISK ASSESSMENT OF PPE

Consider each item of PPE individually as follows:

Signed ............................... Date ........................................

When you have answered these questions and signed it you have gone a long way towards complying with the legislation. However, this is not written in stone, if anything changes, re-assessment will have to be carried out.

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