Protect what matters - March 2025

THE BIGGEST factor for organisations, according to the 2024 Health & Safety Report, produced by RS in association with Health and Safety Matters Magazine, is finding the correct product. 46 per cent of respondents cited this. Availability is less of an issue, with seven per cent highlighting this. 

One challenge, highlighted by 12 per cent of professionals, is range. 

John Barnacle-Bowd, vice president for environment, health & safety at RS Group, said, in three years, his organisation has increased the number of line items from 12,000 to 40,000. 

“Doing this has improved the proposition to the customer,” he said  “However, it can also make finding the right product more challenging. How you interact with the customer is key, because if you have a deeper understanding of the application, then you can narrow down suitable options.

“In production facilities, we provide a different type of hand protection to that of the automotive space. It is important for us to have strong relationships with our suppliers and the end-user, to ensure we provide the correct PPE for the application.”.

Confronting concerns

There are challenges with buying PPE, however, and finding suppliers who have the right stock and services is the biggest. And it’s growing; 31 per cent of respondents now say this is an issue compared to 23 per cent the year before. 

Other issues include sourcing quality and trustworthy parts (28%, up from 26%) and keeping up to date with new products and technology (23%, as it was the previous year).

Barnacle-Bowd said: “The key is to use reputable suppliers and conduct due diligence  ahead of any purchase. Make sure products have the CE mark and are coded correctly with the right credentials. If your purchasing team is buying substandard products, I would highlight that to senior management.”

Sustainable thinking

Another issue when purchasing PPE is sustainability. 78 per cent said they would pay more for a sustainable item. However, 11 per cent see cost as the most important factor when choosing PPE.

More awareness of the total cost of PPE is needed, along with a better understanding of the cost to society when products which aren’t fit for purpose are bought. 

Dr Karen McDonnell, occupational health and safety policy adviser at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said: “If a more sustainable product means the PPE lasts longer, the condition of the PPE over time need to be closely monitored.” 

Those looking to buy sustainable items should pay a level of care and attention that they would for any other item.

“Manufacturers need to be doing more to educate both distributors and end-users because it can be a minefield.  

"RS’s Better World products have been designed to help with this, by providing sustainable options, verified by an independent body,” said Barnacle-Bowd

The new RS 2025 Health and Safety report will launch on 8 April 2025. Download your copy and discover the latest insights from Environmental,Health and Safety professionals in the UK and Ireland.

John Barnacle-Bowd is vice president for environment, health & safety at RS Group. For more information, visit https://uk.rs-online.com/web/