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Working in harmony

25 July 2024

Is your PPE designed and tested to be worn together? Louise Charlton explains why using truly compatible PPE and accessories make work safer and easier.

THE MANY hazards presented in construction and industry create a challenging working environment. Heavy machinery, power tools, falling debris, harmful noise and working at height pose a high degree of risk, with potentially devastating consequences. 

The construction sector continues to account for the highest number of fatalities in Great Britain. Provisional figures for 2023/24 reported 51 fatal injuries in construction.1 For the last two years, construction fatalities have been statistically significantly higher than the pre-pandemic period, highlighting an increased risk to workers.2 Additionally, 69,000 construction workers were estimated to be suffering from work-related ill health in the three-year period 2020/21-2022/23.3

Faced with a combination of dangerous hazards, it takes a combination of carefully selected measures and equipment to protect people. PPE and accessories need to be compatible to perform as intended and keep wearers safe from injury and illness. 

When wearing a safety helmet with attached accessories, each item needs to work together. Interference between different items of PPE can impact fit and reduce protection. Incompatible equipment can also be uncomfortable and impede the wearer, making tasks more difficult. Careful selection is required to combat the risks effectively. 

It is essential to remember that being able to fit products together does not guarantee they are compatible. In some cases testing and certification is required to make sure that PPE and accessories are safe to use. 

One example is ear defenders. The EN 352-3 standard requires mounted ear defenders to be tested on compatible helmets or faceshields, assessing the performance of the products working in combination. This is important because the selected helmet or faceshield can have a significant effect on attenuation. 

Ear defenders create a tight seal, forcing sound energy to travel through the cup which reduces the noise level at the ear. To create and maintain a seal the ear defenders and attachments exert a specific amount of force – called ‘headband force’, even when attached to a helmet or faceshield. The force must be strong enough to seal the cushion against the face whilst remaining below the 14 Newton limit to be comfortable for the wearer. 

Testing also assesses change in headband force after simulated wear. The ear defenders are attached to the helmet or faceshield and fitted on a flexing device that cycles the stand-by mechanisms 1000 times. Headband force is then measured again and must be within 15% of the original result (and below the 14 Newton limit).

Attaching ear defenders to an untested helmet or faceshield means the force and hearing protection level is unknown. The force may be too low to create an effective seal, exposing the wearer to harmful noise. It could also be too high which can prevent the wearer hearing important warning sounds. Without carrying out the change in headband force test, it is unknown if the ear defenders may become loose over time, which can decrease attenuation. 

Testing ear defenders with another product once only provides an insight into performance at the time of the test. Changes to the helmet or faceshield can affect how the ear defenders fit, impacting attenuation, and without certification in place these details are not always accounted for. As category III products under the PPE Regulation, properly certified ear defenders are monitored by an independent third party. Any changes are captured, and the Notified Body advises additional assessments to verify that hearing protection performance remains the same or, if it changes, makes sure user information is updated correctly. Certified compatibility provides assurance that products will continue to protect the wearer as designed, beyond the initial test.

Integrated eye protection can vastly improve compatibility, providing it is implemented in the right way. Faceshields and eye protectors should only be fitted to compatible helmets. The helmet determines the position of the faceshield or eyewear, and its attachment points contribute to overall strength. 

Using an incompatible helmet can reduce the coverage offered by the eye protector, limiting protection against impact and liquid splash, and increasing the wearer’s risk of injury. Optical properties can also be affected if the eyewear is incorrectly positioned and cause vision problems. 

Helmet-mounted faceshields and eye protectors are tested with the helmets they are designed to be used with. This ensures the eye protector is fitted correctly over the eyes or face to provide the required coverage, protection and optical performance. 

Products designed for use together make it easy to stow or park the eyewear or faceshield when not in use, and keep it firmly attached ready for when needed. Compatible integrated eye protection prevents spectacle frames interfering with ear defender seals. In addition, helmet integrated eyewear is compatible with prescription spectacles, allowing wearers to use their own glasses safely underneath the eye protection. 

Wearing unapproved accessories or making unauthorised modifications can compromise helmet performance when it matters most. Hats or hoodies should never be worn underneath safety helmets. These items can affect how the harness fits and prevent the helmet from working properly. 

The helmet needs to be tightened protect against impact injury. By gripping the head, the harness enables the helmet to absorb energy and limit the force transmitted to the wearer. If the helmet is too loose, it is unable to absorb impact energy at the intended level and can also move around on the head, increasing risk of injury in the event of an impact.

Approved accessories are available that have been tested to make sure they do not interfere with compatible helmets. Thermal liners can be attached to the harness or worn like a beanie hat, providing a safe way to keep warm without affecting helmet function. Helmet neck capes provide sun protection. These accessories fit to the rear of the helmet, protecting the wearer’s neck against harmful UV in sunlight. 

Safety helmets should not be modified or customised unless advised by the manufacturer. Creating holes for ventilation or attachments can reduce the helmet’s strength. Markers, paints and adhesive labels contain chemicals that can damage the shell. Opting for a helmet with built-in ventilation, ID card holder and accessory attachment points can meet these needs in a compatible and convenient way, making sure the PPE is compliant, comfortable and easy to use.

Truly compatible PPE and accessories make work safer and easier. Each piece of equipment fits comfortably without affecting how other items function or impeding the wearer. Being designed and tested to work together, products are user-friendly, durable, maintain high performance throughout use. Specifying compatible PPE and accessories at the selection stage saves time and costs in the short term from replacing unsuitable products, as well as paying off further in the long term with greater efficiency and productivity. Higher levels of comfort and convenience increase wearer acceptance, improving compliance and offering more effective protection. 

References
1 RIDDOR. Work-related fatal injuries (2023/24p)
2 HSE. Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2024
3 Labour Force Survey. 

Louise Chalton is technical copywriter at JSP Safety. For more information about compatible PPE and accessories, visit jspsafety.com.

 
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