Safety at the workplace is a major concern for the employees and is a huge responsibility of the employers. There are specific safety and security rules and regulations that are meant to safeguard workers from harm and remove any imposed risks to their lives. A major emphasis is laid on the fact that employers should strictly implement these regulations at their workplaces.
One such major regulation is the necessity to use personal protective equipment if the workplace imposes health risks. Providing personal protective equipment and being responsible for the health and safety of the employees is the duty of every employer.
Workplaces that impose serious threats to the safety of the workers, demands to have specific measures to tackle it and this can’t be ignored by the employers. Risk assessments should be compulsorily conducted at every workplace. So, that there is awareness about what necessary preventions are required and all the possibilities of injuries are effectively ruled out.
Measures of protection should be taken after the risk assessment is done. All employees must have complete information related to the risks present at the workplace that might affect their health or cause them injuries. Not only this, the employers should provide personal protective equipment to their employees to ensure their safety.
Specific Responsibilities of The Employers
Whether it’s a big enterprise or a small business it’s the employers’ responsibility that they should have a proper official record of the risk assessment done with a mention of a plan to deal with the risk.
- In addition to this, there should be a health and safety policy for all the employees and it should be the responsibility of the employer to keep employees informed about it.
- Employers must ensure safety at the workplace by taking all the required measures to minimize the risk to health. Ensuring safety around the machinery. Safe working practices must be implemented and all the required personal protective equipment should be provided free of charge to the employees.
- Personal protective equipment should be handled, used, and stored safely. Information, instructions, training, and supervision related to the use of the PPE should be provided by the employers.
- Emergency plans, providing first-aid facilities, prevention and control of exposure to the hazardous substance, all these should be taken care of by the employers.
- Employers should ensure that the right warning signs and mentions are provided and those are looked after.
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
The 1992 work regulations for the use of the personal protective equipment came into effect from January 1, 1993. These regulations are related to the use of personal protective equipment that is intended to safeguard the wearer from health and safety hazards imposed on them at their workplace environment.
These regulations come with guidelines to be followed by employers to ensure the safety of the employees and the use of PPE as a retort to minimize the risks. PPE must be appropriate and should be used in accordance with the risks involved.
It should fulfil the ergonomic requirements. Health status of the individual wearing PPE should be evaluated properly. PPE should fit the wearer perfectly or else it will be ineffective in offering protection. It should be effective in accordance with the risk and comply with statutory requirements on design. PPE in use should be compatible with other PPE and can be used with ease.
PPE Regulations 2002
PPE must be equipped to offer protection against all the risks encountered.
PPE must be designed with the intention that it can be used with convenience and the user can perform the risk related activities without any hindrance and get the benefit of the highest level of protection.
CE marking on PPE that is visible, legible, and indelible throughout the life of every PPE manufactured and if marking is not possible due to the characteristics of the product then the packaging should carry a CE marking.
Disposable Coveralls
Disposable Coveralls are designed to cover the whole body and are loosely-fitted one-piece offering protection for the whole body with ease of movement for the wearer.
Air Fed Respirator Mask
Air Fed Respirator Mask use a battery powered fan to clean air and prevent the contaminants being passed through the filter. Thus, providing maximum protection against dust, dirt, and harmful molecules.
Dust Mask Respirator
Dust masks are lightweight, easy to breathe and usually designed to filter non-toxic contaminants present in air below the permissible limits.
Conclusion
Safety of workers is a major concern to give consideration. Workers should be given the protective equipment for free of any charges. Proper consultation about the imposed dangers and the proper training on how workers can safeguard themselves by using the personal protective equipment should be compulsorily provided.
The safety and health of the employees and visitors at work is the major responsibility of every employer. Necessary regulations should be implemented to effectively deal with the hazards present there.
