A commercial gardener was using a petrol-driven strimmer to trim undergrowth. He hit a piece of unseen debris, which was thrown into the air and caught him in the eye. He lost the sight in that eye because he was not wearing protective goggles, which was advised in the manufacturer’s written instructions for using the strimmer.
How similar accidents can be prevented
Ensure those operating strimmers are trained to recognise the hazards posed by unseen debris and wear appropriate PPE, including protective goggles.
Selection and Use
You should ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is exposed and to what?
- How long are they exposed for?
- How much are they exposed to?
When selecting and using PPE:
- Choose products which are CE marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 – suppliers can advise you
- Choose equipment that suits the user – consider the size, fit and weight of the PPE. If the users help choose it, they will be more likely to use it
- If more than one item of PPE is worn at the same time, make sure they can be used together, eg wearing safety glasses may disturb the seal of a respirator, causing air leaks
- Instruct and train people how to use it, eg train people to remove gloves without contaminating their skin. Tell them why it is needed, when to use it and what its limitations are
Types of PPE
There are many different types of PPE for the body and depending on the job type. Therefore it is important to know what equipment is out there to use and to help keep you safe. The following types of PPE is available:
- Skin protection (e.g. protective clothing)
- Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- Eye protection (e.g. goggles)(RPE)
- Head protection (e.g. safety helmets)
- Ear protection (e.g. earplugs)
- Foot protection (e.g. steel toecap boots)
- Hand and arm protection (e.g. gloves)
- Body protection (e.g. high-visibility clothing)
- Fall protection (e.g. safety harnesses).
The Law
The current legislation which refers to the supply of personal protective equipment is the The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2016/425, which is enforced by the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018. HSE are the enforcing authority for the supply of PPE that is designed for use at work.
At Prestige Safety Services we could help protect your employees in the workplace by supplying the correct PPE, which is suitable for the works carried out in the workplace. Our PPE ensures you are fully protected within the workplace. Get in touch if you would like further information or prices.