Each course has full written content with wearer
trials and practical ‘hands on’ demonstrations
of the equipment.
We have often wondered how we can explain to
our customers their responsibility for the choice,
use and maintenance of PPE and RPE.
As a manufacturer of PPE and RPE we have to satisfy
the EU directive 89/686/EEC which is why we test
and CE mark our products and maintain a quality
control system to ISO9001.
The items we produce must satisfy ‘Essential
Safety Requirements’ and it is up to SGS
Yardley, our Notified Body, to ensure that the
items we produce do meet those requirements. CE
marking of the product displays that these requirements
are met.
The responsibility of the user’s employer
towards the use of PPE and RPE is detailed in
the ‘PPE in Work Directive’. The UK
equivalent of this directive is the ‘PPE
in Work Regulation’. These regulations are
enacted in ‘The Health and Safety at Work
Act’.
It is a criminal offence not to adhere to these
regulations and there are penalties for failing
to comply.
It is the responsibility of the employer under
this regulation to provide ‘Suitable Protection’
and it is his legal obligation to use ‘Good
Judgement’ in his selection. The employer
must provide ‘Suitable Protection’.
This is what we at Respirex have been referring
to as ‘Fit for Purpose’. The employer
needs to ensure the equipment is suitable whilst
it continues to be in use i.e. one considered
no longer suitable it must be retired.
The employer, in his risk assessment, highlights
that he needs to provide/issue PPE or RPE must
then ensure three things:
1) The equipment must be ‘Suitable
for Use’ within the circumstances he is
going to use it.
2) The personnel must be trained
in the ‘Use’ of the equipment.
3) An adequate maintenance programme
to ensure the PPE or RPE remains suitable.
The employer therefore, as part of his responsibility
described above, will need to introduce a ‘Use
and Maintenance Protocol’.
This where our Support Services fit in, we must
be careful though.
a) We are really only bringing
a garment back to ‘Original Specification’
i.e. it is suitable for use again. This specification
does help the employer in satisfying his responsibilities.
b) Depending upon the garment,
say: it is an air suit in regular use, we cannot
say it is going to be suitable for use until we
next service or maintain it, as we do not know
what may happen to it once we leave site.
c) Emergency suits are easier
in that we say they require maintenance after
each use or one per annum.
d) Once a garment is no longer
suitable for use, the employer must see that it
is no longer used.
Respirex Trainingtech on site courses are directed
by a Respirex Qualified Trainer and cover:
The effects of exposure to contamination
Correct assembly, wearing and removal
When and where the equipment should be worn
Equipment applications and limitations
How to determine that the equipment is fit for
use
Examination for deterioration and defect reports
Correct cleaning and storage
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