Changes to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations come into force in April 2022. They may affect you!
These changes will affect a large majority of small, medium and large businesses in all sectors.
All employers have duties concerning the provision and user of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work.
Great Britain employers from 6th April will have responsibilities under the new PPE Regulations to include workers under casual employment.
PPE Regulations Summary
The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations 1992 (those in force today) places a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that suitable PPE is provided to ‘employees’ who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.
The new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations 2022 (the ones that come into force 6th April 2022) place duties and responsibilities on employers and employees to limb (b) workers.
Limb (b) describes workers who generally have a more casual employment relationship and work under a contract for service.
What do the new PPE Regulations mean for employers?
At this point, the current duty to provide PPE to those with a contract of employment will extend to workers with a more casual employment relationship – limb (b) workers.
So, if your PPE Risk Assessment requires those with a more casual employment relationship to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to carry out their work activities, then these Regulations require you (the employer) to provide it free of charge.
Employers need to carefully consider whether the change to UK law applies to them and their workforce and make the necessary preparations to comply.
If your risk assessment indicates that a limb (b) worker requires PPE to carry out their work activities, the employer must carry out a PPE suitability assessment and provide the PPE free of charge as they do for employees.
The employer will be responsible for the maintenance, storage and replacement of any PPE they provide.
Workers (including limb (b)), will be required to use the PPE properly following training and instruction from their employer.
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Does your safety management meet the required Personal protective equipment (PPE) Regulations?
Many companies issue PPE without fully ensuring their workers understand the obligations, without completing a PPE assessment or recording the issuing of PPE – which would help reduce business costs.
Safety PAL (Plan Act Learn) ensures your company is doing so far as is reasonably practicable in meeting its legal obligations. Person Protective Equipment is just one of the subordinate regulations all UK Employers need to comply with.
Safety PAL is unique in providing all its clients:
- Workers and Contractors PPE assessments,
- Issuing of PPE to workers, agency staff and contractors.
- A mobile tool to request PPE for workers, agency staff and contractors.
- PPE training and wellbeing tools for all your workers, agency staff and contractors.
- And a full audit trail of PPE issued, including costs and stock levels.
All designed to ensure you meet the required standards, mitigate risk and reduce costs.
Testimonial:
You can read more about the regulations in full from this dedicated PPER 2022
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