From the CEO's desk

Following extensive promotion of the Registered Safety Suppliers Scheme, the BBC approached the BSIF to contribute to the latest series of Fake Britain, on the dangers of counterfeit safety products. The programme focussed on the issue of counterfeit hi-viz garments flooding into the UK market from the Far East. Despite claiming to meet European standards, these garments are putting the user's safety at risk.

Safety equipment, by its very nature, is designed to save your life. It must do 'what it says on the tin'. Yet time and again products have been exposed that do not live up to their claims. As the BBC programme quite rightly claimed: “If a fake watch fails, it's a nuisance, however if your safety equipment fails, it can put your life at risk.”

So why do people buy from sources that cannot be verified or trusted? One obvious reason is cost. A primary source of these questionable products is from internet auction sites, which offer safety equipment at 'spectacular' prices. But can you be 100% certain that the product will perform as it is supposed to and that it meets all the required standards? Ask yourself: would you risk purchasing lifesaving medicines from an unknown website with offers that are too good to be true? Then why take the risk with lifesaving safety equipment.

Good quality safety equipment that meets all the right standards is readily available in the UK from competent and reliable sources. They will ensure you get fully compliant product, offer assistance in selection and supply aftercare if you need it. To be certain, the BSIF runs the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme, which audits safety equipment suppliers to confirm their conformance and ensures you are always supplied with safety equipment that will perform as it should and will meet all of your legal obligations. Why risk anything else? The consequences could be fatal.

David Lummis
The BSIF Chief Executive Officer.