Posted By TBC If possible stores or supervision can issue PPE on a one for one basis - keeping records of individuals for comparison. It just depends on what is used and who is available to police the situation. Any company clearly cannot just give out PPE without some controls or assessments. Controls give you an idea of what work is being carried out and if the PPE is indeed suitable. Perhaps there could be a need to re-assess and decide if alternative controls to PPE are available. Working a different way or substituting some chemicals with safer alternatives as required by COSHH Regs. Hope it helps.

Posted By Jerry Lucey Hi Alan, It is important to have a process of risk assessment, consultation with employees, purchase of PPE, training in the use and maintenance of PPE, issue of PPE, monitoring as well as facilities for storage. I have found that by consulting employees following risk assessment that they will give you an idea of what PPE is most acceptable and they will be buying into the idea of a particular type of PPE. This should help to ensure that they know about the risks and will want to use and maintain the PPE. Training is important as it will give them insight not only into how to use the PPE but also how to maintain it. It is also worth looking at storage facilities as personnel are more likely to wear PPE that is well maintained. All too often you will see drying rooms on construction sites or storage facilities in other industries where PPE is thrown on the floor or where there are inadequate facilities to dry wet/ cold PPE. It again comes back to respect in that if employees see that thought is going into their welfare they are more likely to respect this and the PPE they are being issued with. Records and monitoring is important as trends can be identified. Records of issue will show if certain individuals are going through more PPE. This may indicate the the PPE is being damaged through being used inappropriately in which case further training is needed. If it becomes apparant that PPE is being abused or purposely neglected you may need to look at disciplinary action. Hope this answers some of your questions.

Posted By John Murgatroyd All very good. But. I think it would be better if employers, and their OHS staff, were trained in how to assess whether or not PPE is required or whether they should have an engineered approach to the job that would not require PPE to be worn. Also, things like RPE (for instance) come under COSHH regulations....although many employers and their HS staff are not aware of it. So, you have welders, and you blindly issue them with RPE...but, is it the right RPE...you would need to have the fumes tested to determine that......yet hardly any employers bother..they just issue the gear and forget it....then again, some have the testing done in conditions that give a favourable result....like having the tests done over a 2 hour period when no work is being done....

Posted By John McFeely Hi Alan, I think you answered your own question. Good Luck.