October: All the gear and no idea?
October 30th 2009 The world’s health and safety manufacturers and suppliers return to Düsseldorf this November for the biennial A+A exhibition where no fewer than 1,220 of the stalls will contain some form of PPE. This market has grown at an exciting rate in recent years and even in the current economic climate visitors to the show can expect a wide range of product innovations. In this issue we take a closer look, not just at what is on show at the exhibition (pages 18 & 19), but at the development of the PPE market in general (pages 12&13).
What is becoming acutely apparent though is that no matter how good your PPE is, if it isn’t used and maintained properly it could be next to useless. ‘All the gear and no idea’ is a popular expression in sporting circles to suggest the cost of someone’s equipment doesn’t necessarily reflect their competence. In the same sense, as many HSM readers will know, having the most expensive face mask or the most sophisticated hearing protection is only worthwhile if it is used correctly. Recent HSE research indicated that up to 50% of all RPE used does not offer the wearer the level of protection assumed and possibly only 60 % of workers supposedly using hearing protection are actually protected. On both accounts this is often because the protection simply doesn’t fit properly, something which can be affected by a number of factors from facial hair and dentures to unusual facial features.
The serious concern is that incorrectly wearing PPE or wearing the incorrect PPE is potentially more serious than not wearing any at all because the user is likely to expose themselves to a hazard for an extended period believing they are protected.
The good news is that the industry is tackling this. The BSIF launched a Fit2Fit Test Providers Accreditation scheme earlier this year and many manufacturers and consultants have extensive expertise in this area. At HSM’s Health & Safety ‘09 shows held in Sandown and Bolton this year it has been apparent that there is an increasing appetite for this kind of information and guidance. For this reason HSM is pleased to announce that it aims to continue to play its part in bringing free, hands on health & safety advice to your doorstep with the launch of an additional show in Scotland next year at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh from 15-16 September. We hope with the free seminar programme and the opportunity to talk to experts face to face that we will be able to show you the gear – and give you some ideas.
Georgina Bisby
Editor, Health & Safety Matters
gbisby@western-bp.co.uk More articles from HSM News Desk: | 
