Rank: New forum user 
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Personal Protective Equipment.. are they really Equipment? Personal measures such as the application of sun cream, drinking water or taking certain suppliments or medication to protect against certain occupational hazards are for protection on individual, rather than collective, level but yet are NOT Equipment.
I suggest that the term is changed to Individual Protective Measures (IPM) as this is more accurate.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Fully agree that many hazard controls for individuals would fail the test of being described as "equipment" e.g. rest breaks in confined space entry but good luck in changing Europe where legislation describes PPE and the standards required for equipment provided for the protection of the employee. Other regulations and ACOP relate to the matters you are eluding towards so we are entering the realms of language and terminology that will unfortunately never be common to all mankind.
Even as listed PPE would be a component of IPM.
By example a construction worker would have hard hat, boots, even Hi-Vis all equipment - sun cream, potable water, salt tablets are measures for heat and sun exposure.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Fully agree that many hazard controls for individuals would fail the test of being described as "equipment" e.g. rest breaks in confined space entry but good luck in changing Europe where legislation describes PPE and the standards required for equipment provided for the protection of the employee. Other regulations and ACOP relate to the matters you are eluding towards so we are entering the realms of language and terminology that will unfortunately never be common to all mankind.
Even as listed PPE would be a component of IPM.
By example a construction worker would have hard hat, boots, even Hi-Vis all equipment - sun cream, potable water, salt tablets are measures for heat and sun exposure.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The things you describe are nothing to do with PPE.
But they should appear further up the risk control hierarchy
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Rank: Super forum user
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PPE is legally defined in two pieces of legislation; The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 which define PPE and describe how it is to be marketed and the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 which described how employers are supposed to select and supply PPE to their employees. To get rid of the term PPE would mean amending this legislation. I am not sure how you could amend it so it still made sense to include the things you mentioned. The things you mentioned are just individual control measures in addition to PPE. You include them in a risk assessment if appropriate. Why would you want get rid of the term PPE?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Does it really matter? Does the current use of the term PPE cause confusion? Will it make people safer to use an alternative description?
I think the answer to all of those questions is no
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks all for your valulable comments.. there seems to be an agreement that there is a need to address the measures I mentioned in the controls hierarchy. However, since they fall within the category of individual (or personal) protection I think that it is more sensible and practical to merge them under one new term or phrase.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I pretty sure there are more pressing safety issues to think about.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ian Bell wrote:I pretty sure there are more pressing safety issues to think about. Totally agree
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Ian Bell wrote:I pretty sure there are more pressing safety issues to think about. I'm inclined to agree!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Canopener wrote:Ian Bell wrote:I pretty sure there are more pressing safety issues to think about. I'm inclined to agree! Aye!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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IPM seems to already be taken by "Integrated pest management"
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Rank: Super forum user 
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luay_salih wrote:Personal Protective Equipment.. are they really Equipment? Personal measures such as the application of sun cream, drinking water or taking certain suppliments or medication to protect against certain occupational hazards are for protection on individual, rather than collective, level but yet are NOT Equipment.
I suggest that the term is changed to Individual Protective Measures (IPM) as this is more accurate. Equipment is defined as something with which one is "equipped". Therefore, if I am going to the beach, I will be equipped with suncream, a bottle of water, a towel, my kindle, packed lunch, etc. I don't understand the problem with the word equipment in this context, sun cream is equipment for protection against the sun, medication equips you against occupational hazards. I think PPE is adequately named to cover a multitude of sins and in this case, one size really does fit all.
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