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Not fit for work

02 December 2024

We all know that ‘PPE Saves Lives’ and a Health and Safety Matters’ webinar with the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), took the audience through a range of examples of products that clearly do not provide the protection expected. Kelly Rose provides a summary.

THE BRITISH Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) regularly collaborates with Health and Safety Matters (HSM) to share its expertise on PPE and safety industry matters. In its recent webinar, PPE Saves Lives, the BSIF tackled the challenges of market surveillance and sourcing compliant PPE under Great Britain’s current legal framework. The key message? Always procure PPE from reputable suppliers to ensure safety.

Alan Murray, CEO of the BSIF, and Roy Wilder, Manager of the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme (RSSS), presented during the webinar and fielded questions from the audience. With over a decade at the helm of the BSIF, Alan Murray provided insights into the regulatory landscape, market compliance issues, and enforcement challenges, noting that 90% of PPE inspected by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) failed to comply with regulations. He also raised concerns about whether the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is adequately resourced to maintain safety standards.

With nearly 30 years in the industry, Roy Wilder focused on non-compliant PPE products, misleading marketing practices, and the importance of proper product markings (e.g., CE and UKCA).

Wile this write up of the webinar only scratches the surface of the topics included in the one hour webinar, the event can be watched on demand.

Alan kicked things off and highlighted the impact of the 2016 PPE regulations, Brexit, and the pandemic on market compliance. He noted that 90% of PPE products investigated by the Office for Product Safety and Standards did not comply. 

The regulator for safety and health is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and Alan recognises the the value of the HSE, saying “it’s central to safety and health in this country - it’s essential. And the question that I would propose is, are they getting enough resources?”

The decline of the HSE’s budget affecting inspection capabilities was discussed and Alan emphasised the need for effective enforcement of new legislation to ensure safety and health standards are met.

Roles and initiatives

The BSIF was established 30 years ago and currently has some 360 member companies who are focused on PPE and safety equipment. Here are some of the roles and initiatives which are explained in more detail on the webinar:

  • BSIF manages and administers the Fit2Fit scheme in the UK and has expanded it to European countries.
  • The organisation also administers the Registered Safety Supplier scheme to ensure product quality and supplier competency.
  • Special interest groups within BSIF discuss various product categories and run campaigns to promote safety and health management.
  • The Clean Air Take Care campaign a key initiative to guide the use of respiratory protective equipment.
  • PPE market surveillance

If you head to the BSIF website you can read all about the BSIF campaigns - there are 15 specific campaigns all available to download at no cost. They’re designed to help duty holders and employers with interpreting and managing their safety programs and are an excellent resource.

Roy has been manager of the Register Safety Supplier (RSS) scheme for six years and used his time on the webinar to highlight some of the non-compliant products on the market, and how to ensure you are buying suitable, compliant products.

He also warned about misleading marketing tactics used by some PPE manufacturers and emphasised the need for realistic and accurate testing to ensure PPE provides the necessary protection.

The role of the BSIF in auditing both member and non-member products was explained, with data showing an 88% failure rate for non-member products. Specific failures, such as lack of markings and inadequate performance in testing, are discussed.

Another key takeaway from this webinar was the importance of product markings, such as CE and UKCA, and the need for clear and durable markings. The required documentation, including user instructions and a declaration of conformity, are highlighted.

With so many fake and non compliant products on the market, it is important to ensure you are buying from companies you trust, and Roy points out the value of the BSIF shield, which can help you select the correct PPE to protect workers.

The BSIF plays an important role supporting those who bring products to market and has recently launched a pilot scheme which is free of charge and open to anyone involved in specifying or using PPE.  Roy explains some of the benefits of this new scheme: “We have a PPE helpline where you can get in touch with an expert who will be able to give you unbiased advice based upon what the legislation states and what the standards require for specific PPE. 

“There's also going to be a number of other features that are available for you. Access to mailings that we will send out highlighting changes in legislation or hot topics in the industry. There will be training courses and qualifications, available seminars, networking events, and even the opportunity to be referred on to the British Standards Institute to take part in writing standards.”

The importance of procuring compliant PPE cannot be overstated, so look for the BSIF shield when selecting products to ensure quality and compliance.

If you’d like to learn more, the webinar is available to watch on demand at https://wbmwebinars.com/not-fit-for-work/register. For further details on the BSIF’s initiatives and support, visit their website to explore campaigns, resources, and upcoming events.

Kelly Rose is editor of Health and Safety Matters. For more information, visit www.hsmsearch.com

 
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