The TUC which represents the majority of Trade Unions in the UK and campaigns for a fair deal at work for workers from all walks of life is conducting an online survey to find out workers’ experiences of PPE.
What is PPE?
PPE is not just what most people would think - hard hats and steel toe capped boots – it can include equipment like appropriate gloves, ear defenders, overalls and goggles, whatever is reasonable for you to do your job safely.
Entitlement to PPE
The law in the UK is very clear that workers are entitled to be provided with appropriate PPE by their employers.
Despite these laws it appears that some workers are not being provided with the protection from hazards they are entitled to and in some cases; workers are even asked to buy their own PPE. The TUC survey wants to find out what people are really experiencing at work.
Importance of PPE
PPE can make a huge difference in preventing injuries or minimising the seriousness of an injury sustained by a worker.
Hard hats for example can prevent brain injuries or head injuries. They are vital for workers exposed to the risk of objects falling from a height such as those working on construction sites. Most building accidents aren’t on big sites and PPE rules apply whatever the size of a job – the issue is the hazard rather than the type of job.
Safety gloves can make the difference between a laceration and an amputation, safety goggles can prevent loss of sight and ear defenders can prevent someone going deaf or suffering from conditions like tinnitus – ringing in the ears.
Follow the link to read a news story we have published recently about a worker who suffered a partial amputation of his thumb after being provided with unsuitable safety gloves.
Take part in the PPE survey
The survey aims to discover the best and worst practices concerning PPE. The TUC are keen to hear from workers from all different sectors.
A link to the online survey on the TUC website can be found here:
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