Posted By A Olsen I know this has been a topic in the past but as part of our pre-tender presentations with PPE suppliers, the vast majority of them are recommending vending machines as providing real cost savings. Naturally, we're a bit skeptical. Is there anyone in the Aberdeen area who is already using vending machines for PPE who would be willing to give honest opinions on the successes/failures of the system and let us visit to see one in operation? Yes - the suppliers have offered to put us in contact with some of their clients but let's be honest, they're not likely to put us in touch with anyone who's going to say anything negative.

Posted By Peter How Sorry don't live near Aberdeen ..... Yes it is a straight forward vending machine, but instead of mars bars or soft drinks it has various types of gloves, ear plugs, ear muffs, safety spec ---- whatever is required for the workplace. Employees have their individual swipe (credit type) card or memory stick. When they need something, they go to machine, swipe card, press appropriate buttons and PPE drops down into front door hopper - just like mars bar. Issue is free, but management get a report statement monthly saying who took what & when. Staff can use as much as they need. It is management action to control misuse or enquire why particular jobs need so much. Solves shift working issues -- "stores is closed"; supervisor hasn't got any left .... Still working at my plant 5 yrs later. peter

Posted By A Olsen Richard, No - defintely not charging employees for PPE. It's simply a means of ensuring employees have access to PPE on a night shift but allows some degree of monitoring of who is vending which items and how many. Also means Supervision doesn't spend all night dispensing PPE and having to log who got what if the employees are able to vend it themselves.

Posted By PAUL U Saw one of these machines this week at Health & Safety 09. I believe ARCO are distributing them. Good idea if misuse or mis-apropriation of PPE is suspected. Paul