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Posted By RichardC1973
Following a health and safety audit I have been advised that I need to display mandatory safety signs indicating the use of PPE on all machinery. This implies that our plumbers will have to have their electric drills etc. labeled accordingly with relevant signs. Is this information true?
I am not sure it makes sense, for example hearing protection may only be required when using an electric drill and diamond core drill, not a 5.5mm wood bit.
And how can I label the tools - do I stick stickers to the tool boxes or is there another way of doing it.
Any advice would be welcomed. Thanks.
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Posted By Al..
What you have to do is make sure that your plumbers wear PPE when you have determined that they need to. The best way is to tell them when they have to wear it and then keep an eye on them from time to time to see if they are actually doing it. If they are not using the PPE you should try to find out why - perhaps they do not appreciate how their hearing, eyes etc could be damaged. Some training might be necessary.
You might want to consider using signs to remind them to use PPE but there is certainly no requirement for signs to be displayed. The requirement is make sure the PPE is used. There are other. and better, ways of doing this.
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Posted By alan brotherton
I would be asking for justification of the comments regarding requirement to put signs on tools such as power handtools as it seems rather ridiculous to me. It may be a good idea to consider the hierarchy of safety control which says where hazards cannot be controlled by other means - at least stick a sign up to warn people about it. I would assume that adequately trained competent employees and a safe working procedure / work instructions to follow would be sufficient control without the need for signs on powertools etc.
I would also consider looking at the minimum required sizes of signage as per the regulations as this may not be practicable on smaller items of equipment. It all sounds a bit "elf & safetyish" to me.
I have just been sat at my desk writing with a pencil but there was no safety sign on it to say I had to wear eye protection in case the lead broke off and shot into my eye.
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Posted By alan brotherton
Further to my previous post - just wanted to add that for larger machines (not hand held) the requirement for appropriate safety signs may well be justified if say there are risks from noise exposure, ejection, dangerous parts etc. but again these would only serve as a "back up" to the safe system of work or procedures in place for operation of the machinery.
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Posted By Pete Longworth
Does your risk assessment specify the use of PPE as a mandatory requirement. If so then the use of appropriate signage would be highly advisable. Obviously there are certain circumstances where there is a legal requirement for PPE eg noisy areas above 85db(A).
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Posted By Konstanty Budkiewicz
Richard,
I agree with previous postees. Challenge the audit finding, provided that you meet the following spirit of the Safety Signs and Signals Regulations.
To para-phase Reg 4: that if you have already adopted all appropriate techniques for collective protection, measures, methods or procedures used to organise work and still cannot avoid, or adequately reduce risks to employees except by the provision of appropriate safety signs. Then those signs shall warn or instruct, or both, of the nature of those risks and the measures to be taken to protect against them.
Hence, for the tools scenario you describe, if you confirm competency or train your staff to a level where they are authorised users; formally record that training, and conduct refresher training at a suitable interval, in this particular case signage is unnecessary.
Signage arises where a suitable and sufficient level of control cannot be achieved.
Kon CMIOSH
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