Are you aware of your responsibilities?
The Personal Protection Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, sometimes referred to as PPER 92) were amended in April 2022, so now the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER) is in force.
What are the changes?
Simplified:
Employers must provide all necessary PPE for Limb (A) workers (this is no different from before the amendment), but they must now also provide for Limb (B) workers.
- Limb (A) ~ employees
- Limb (B) ~ casual workers, subcontractors, but not those who are classed as self-employed.
The Hierarchy of control lists PPE as a last resort, but very often is still in essential part of protecting your workforce.
Detail:
What is a Limb (A) and a Limb (B) worker?
Limb (a) workers are employed personnel with a contract, these were already covered by the original PPR Regulations (PPER 92)
Limb (b) workers work under a contract, but for a third party, these are now covered by the amended PPE regulations (PPER) but does not cover self-employed.
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment will be different depending on your business, here are some of the more generic items:
- Safety footwear (boots, shoes, trainers)
- Safety glasses or goggles (could be plain or prescription)
- Hard hats or bump caps (hazard dependant)
- Protective gloves (could be chainmail, nitrile, chemical resistant etc)
- Overalls (washable, disposable due to fibres or chemicals)
- Hearing protection (plugs or over the ear protection)
- Masks (PPF2, PPF3)
- Hi Visibility clothing (being aware of colour rules (only orange on railways etc)
If this article raises any question, call us on 01455 852028.
