A "Friday" thought on RPE. Options  Watch this topic  Print this topic » Normal Threaded

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Graham		#1 Posted : 24 March 2016 11:22:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Just a "Friday" thought about RPE. We use disposable face masks to protect our work from our workers. The work is not hazardous in any way that RPE could affect. I’m therefore saying that these disposable face masks are not by definition Protective Equipment in the terms of the regulations. Does this seem reasonable to others?
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hilary		#2 Posted : 24 March 2016 12:21:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Yes. I agree.
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RayRapp		#3 Posted : 24 March 2016 12:59:29(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		If the work is not hazardous then why are you providing RPE? As far as I a concerned if you provide RPE and expect your staff to wear it, then it's PPE. What else would you call it?
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Graham		#4 Posted : 24 March 2016 13:09:38(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		RayRapp wrote: If the work is not hazardous then why are you providing RPE? As far as I a concerned if you provide RPE and expect your staff to wear it, then it's PPE. What else would you call it? It's not for the protection of the workforce it's for the protection of what they're working on. So it's not strictly speaking protective equipment in the sense that it is used for health and safety of anyone.
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WatsonD		#5 Posted : 24 March 2016 13:22:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I assume you are talking about nuisance dust masks? They usually have only one strap In which case they are not protective devices, are not classified as PPE and are therefore not CE marked to the requirements of the PPE directive. So in that case then yes you are correct. But, as a result, their use will not stand up to scrutiny if there is a risk of exposure to harmful dust. I would not use them as they can only be used if the risk is non-existent
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Invictus		#6 Posted : 24 March 2016 13:25:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		No you don't need to class as PPE, if others read the post and read that they are for the protection of the work and not the employee as the work is not hazardous to health they would reply in the same way. You have confused them by putting Friday and it is only Thursday H&S bods are easily confused.
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JohnW		#7 Posted : 24 March 2016 13:30:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Well done Invictus, "face masks to protect our work from our workers" as Graham said. BTW Thursdays are my Fridays (rarely ever work on a Friday :0)
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Mr.Flibble2.0		#8 Posted : 24 March 2016 13:50:57(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Kinda curious as to what these guys are working on. I'm thinking antique books or parchment maybe!? :)
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Graham		#9 Posted : 24 March 2016 15:49:11(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Mr.Flibble2.0 wrote: Kinda curious as to what these guys are working on. I'm thinking antique books or parchment maybe!? :) They're growing cells in tissue culture. The main thing here is to stop the cultures getting infected. Masks are pretty much a belt to add to the braces of the cabinets in which the work is done, the lab coats and gloves used.
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Invictus		#10 Posted : 24 March 2016 15:56:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Graham wrote: Mr.Flibble2.0 wrote: Kinda curious as to what these guys are working on. I'm thinking antique books or parchment maybe!? :) They're growing cells in tissue culture. The main thing here is to stop the cultures getting infected. Masks are pretty much a belt to add to the braces of the cabinets in which the work is done, the lab coats and gloves used. I guessed it would be that, they do the same in the chippy near me, only the galss gets hot!
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David Bannister		#11 Posted : 24 March 2016 16:10:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Surgical masks then?
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silberfee		#12 Posted : 24 March 2016 16:24:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Our teams wear them also. Protecting the food they handle rather than themselves. They aren't fit tested and I doubt they every will. Plus some of the girls like to wear them as they are not allowed to wear makeup in the workplace!
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Ron Hunter		#13 Posted : 24 March 2016 17:20:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I recall working in electronic clean rooms (microchip manufacture). We were suited and booted to the same standards as licensed asbestos workers - all to keep the environment dust free.
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toe		#14 Posted : 25 March 2016 23:08:27(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		It may be helpful and to prevent confusion you may choose to call it respiratory environmental protection or something of that nature rather than RPE or PPE. Just a thought.
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RayRapp		#15 Posted : 28 March 2016 21:46:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Graham wrote: RayRapp wrote: If the work is not hazardous then why are you providing RPE? As far as I a concerned if you provide RPE and expect your staff to wear it, then it's PPE. What else would you call it? It's not for the protection of the workforce it's for the protection of what they're working on. So it's not strictly speaking protective equipment in the sense that it is used for health and safety of anyone. Ahh, I see. In that case if the work equipment is not designed to protect the workers then it seems reasonable not to call it PPE or indeed RPE. I guess it's not much different from giving a chef a hat, not to protect him, but the food from contamination.
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