Hi. I would appreciate some advice. I have recently conducted a risk assessment which concluded the need for safety shoes to be provided. The task involved is performed by 18 different people for a short period - no longer then 15 minutes daily, usually 5 minutes. My boss and I discussed this, and he is reluctant to absorb the cost of buying 18 pairs of shoes. I then advised him a alternative system of work eliminating the need for staff to perform the current task would require no shoes to be issued. Again he is reluctant. My boss has now advised me he would be happy to "purchase up to 5 pairs of safety shoes, of different sizes, to be shared amongst the staff. The difference of sizes would be then made up by issuing thick stockings/socks to those that need them". In short, staff sharing the safety shoes. Obviously this would reduce cost to the department. I have taken his response seriously and have advised my boss the law says that PPE must be individually provided as per regulations and good practice (never mind the risk of infections and other nasty conditions as a result of wearing shoes worn by multiple people.) He has asked me to show him this in writing. I have searched for a direct wording on this matter, suprisingly I have yet to find the piece of legislation clearly stating that safety shoes must be provided for each person, and not a few pairs to be shared by multiple users. Could somebody kindly point me to a link? Many thanks in advance. Dave

Thanks Chris. Obviously you and I recognise PPE, however there must be wording somewhere which clearly states in black and white the provisions required therby reducing individuals like my boss to misinterpretate?

Could I suggest a quick look at L25 http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l25.pdf para 23

Many thanks. My first port of call was the this page. Strangely no wording on providing PPE individually. My boss recognises the need to provide PPE, but not individually. This is frustrating as he is clearly interpretating the law wrongly, but I need to prove this.

The "personal" bit means protecting the individual, as opposed to collective protection. Nothing says this has to be individual issue though, however it does have to be suitable for each and every individual who has to use it. Your Boss may have scored a point there, but his general approach is perhaps flawed. No doubt you have impressed upon your boss his initial duty to eliminate the risk, PPE as last resort etc. You also refer to an elimination solution. Is that solution really beyond the grounds of reasonable practicability? Sharing shoes might work if I wear them more or less continuously. Having to put them on at some point in the day only to conduct a particular task is another matter, and prone to failure due to oversight/lack of supervision. Knowing my luck, someone would trip over my everyday shoes I'd put to one side!

LOL! Thanks Ron. Actually the task required is for mainly female staff to venture into a industrial area for 5 minutes to proactively ensure the appointed (and paid) contractors have completed their duties. There are alternative means of doing this without the need to physically enter the area - ie telephone or walkie talkie radios - solutions which are within the grounds of reasonably practical. No doubt I have a big task in changing our safety culture!