View the Latest information on PPE Awareness

1. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
AWARENESS TRAINING
Created by Clayton Hughes
July 2020

2. INTRODUCTION
PPE plays and important role in our day to day works and is vital in ensuring that those works are
undertaken safely.
PPE can prevent or reduce the risk of eye, head or bodily injury from all manner of activities, often
those that you might think are low risk.
We all know what PPE is but are we all aware of just how vital PPE can be in saving a life?

3. AGENDA
1. What is PPE?
2. Why is PPE Important?
3. What the Law Says
4. MUS Minimum Standards
5. PPE in Numbers
6. PPE Behaviours
7. When PPE isn’t Used
8. When PPE becomes a Hazard
9. Summary
10. Q&A

4. What is PPE?
 Personal Protection Equipment is used when risks identified through your risk
assessment cannot be controlled effectively.
 Personal Protection Equipment is provided to ensure that you are protected from
personal injury.
 Personal Protection Equipment is used as a last resort.

5. Why is PPE Important
In the hierarchy of risk control, PPE is considered to rank lowest and represent the option of last resort. It is only
appropriate where the hazard in question cannot be totally removed or controlled in such a way that harm is unlikely (for
example by isolating the hazard or reducing the risk at source to an acceptable level).
There are a number of reasons for this approach:
 PPE protects only the person using it, whereas measures controlling the risk at source can protect everyone at the
workplace;
 Theoretical maximum levels of protection are seldom achieved using PPE, and the real level of protection is difficult to
assess (due to factors such as poor fit, or failure to wear it when required). Effective protection can only be achieved by
equipment which is correctly fitted, maintained and properly used at all times;
 PPE may restrict the wearer by limiting mobility, visibility or by requiring additional weight to be carried.
 Use of PPE may alter employees’ perception of the hazards they are dealing with.
In this context of a last resort control measure, PPE is critically important as it is generally only used where other measures
are insufficient and as such it plays a crucial role in preventing and reducing many occupational fatalities, injuries and
diseases.

6. What the Law Says
Duties – Employers
Employers should provide PPE to their employees only where there is a health and safety risk that cannot be adequately
controlled by other means.
Where risks cannot be controlled by other means then PPE must be provided. It must:
 Be appropriate for the risks and for the working Environment;
 Take account of the user’s health, ergonomics, fit factors and be compatible with other items of PPE required to be
worn;
 Adequately control the risk presented by the hazard without increasing overall risk experienced by the worker. For
example, goggles which are to be used in a hot environment and therefore steam up making it difficult to see;
 Be supplied free of charge if supplied for work-related health-and-safety reasons;
 Be properly maintained and suitably stored (in practice, for mobile workers, it may be necessary to supply a holdall or
other container to prevent damage to PPE in transit);
 Comply with relevant legislation implementing the European Directives concerning the design and manufacture.

7. What the Law Says
Duties – Employees
With regard to PPE employees are required to correctly use any such items provided as directed and in
accordance with any training, instructions or information they have received.
Aside from proper use, employees are also required to return PPE to its storage place after use unless
agreed otherwise with the employer. Employees must take care of PPE and report defects or loss of
equipment as soon as they become aware of them.

8. MUS Minimum Standards
Mandatory Requirements on Operational Sites when undertaking a work activity:
 Hard Hat
 FR Rated Overalls or Two Piece
 Safety Glasses
 Hi Viz Jacket
 Safety Footwear (No Rigger Boots)
 Cut Resistant Gloves
Other items of PPE are to be worn as and when required and when indicated to do
so by safe systems of work and risk assessments

9. MUS Minimum Standards
What we don’t want to see on site:
Is This An Appropriate Hard Hat?Is This An Appropriate Respirator?

10. PPE in Numbers Put it On

11. PPE Behaviours
You would think anyone would gladly wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when performing dangerous tasks. However,
plenty of workers don’t. They put themselves at risk of injury or death and their employers at risk of prosecution.
We all know that PPE can be an effective last line of protection. But how often do you see workers not wearing PPE?
Shocking Stats
Not wearing PPE can result in severe injury or death. In 2017-18 there were 144 fatalities in the workplace and some 621,000 non-
fatal injuries.
PPE such as hard hats, goggles, gloves and boots play a vital role in managing Health & Safety risks. However, historical data
shows many workers suffering injury were not wearing PPE.
Health & Safety Executive figures show there are around 9,000 PPE related incidents each year.
65% of MUS accident injuries were caused through the IP not wearing the correct item of PPE.
Site audits have identified that the two most common items of PPE not being worn by MUS operatives on site are hard hats and
eye protection

12. PPE Behaviours
Why do workers take risks?
The HSE says that failure to use provided protected clothing costs around £65m and that the underlying
causes include:
 Little/no supervision
 Lack of procedure
 Poor awareness/risk perception
 Human error/misjudgement
Although workers sometimes refuse to wear PPE on religious or health grounds, most refusals are due to poor
management, communication and training. If workers do not understand why PPE is needed or have no say in
choosing it, they are more likely to not use it.
If your workers refuse to wear the required clothing, they should be disciplined. Disobeying safety instructions
is as serious as any other rule breaking. Contractual terms and conditions treat failure to follow reasonable
Health & Safety instructions as potential gross misconduct.

13. When PPE isn’t Worn

14. When PPE becomes a Hazard
If at any point during your working hours you find that the wearing oof mandatory or safety critical
items of PPE becomes a hazard, you must cease works immediately and inform your line manager and
/ or SHEQ advisor.
Examples of when PPE can become a hazard:
 Safety Glasses- The vision of the wearer can be obscured from fine rain and / or steam
 Wearing multiple items of PPE – if the items are not compatible, the PPE will not be effective in
achieving their objective
If any workers find that the wearing of PPE increases the risk; a further risk assessment is required to
implement additional controls and protection. Under no circumstances are workers to continue with
their works without the correct PPE.

15. Summary
PPE does not protect your work colleagues, visitors or MOP’s from harm; it only protects YOU. PPE can
reduce the impact of risks to the wearer, only.
If you choose not to wear PPE, you are making a choice to put yourself at risk of injury or death.
Do not become a statistic! Please follow the correct safety instructions implemented by MUS.

16. Q&A
Any questions, please post them on the teams page