PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Head injuries are often serious and all too often life threatening. It is important, when working in hazardous industries, you and your employees are protected with some form of head protection such as a Hard Hat or a Bump Cap. Hard Hats are very different pieces of PPE from Bump Caps and they both perform […]

Here is everything you need to know about dust mask ratings – the same safety standards are used for respirator ratings and the specifications of face masks. After reading, you should know the different dust mask protection levels and the rating system used in respiratory PPE before you choose a dust mask for work. You […]

The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has issued a cautionary alert to industry and tradesmen following the extensive failure of personal protective equipment (PPE) from non-member entities in their safety assessments. In a comprehensive evaluation of safety performance, the BSIF tested 123 products acquired from non-member sources between December 2022 and December 2023. Tests were […]

The week 5th Feb – 11th Feb, 2022 marks Tinnitus Week in the UK. Most of us have left a nightclub or concert with a dull ringing in our ears that usually disappears before the hangover. Or maybe you’ve had a particularly loud day at work with hammers banging and grinders grinding and you notice […]

Chainsaws can be dangerous when they aren’t operated correctly or when the appropriate measures have not been put in place with regards to safety. Protect your chainsaw operators and closely working workers before they’re placed in danger. Here’s how managers can conduct a chainsaw risk assessment in 6 steps. 1. Write down details pertaining to […]

Tree surgeons prune and treat old or damaged trees in order to preserve them, but this type of work involves working at heights, lifting heavy loads, and utilising dangerous equipment like chainsaws, which means it can be hazardous work. We are assuming you have already completed your chainsaw work risk assessment. What is arborist clothing? […]

Personal Protective Equipment is designed to be a last resort when all other safety measures have been put in place. All PPE provides some level of protection, and some is required by law whilst others just provide additional protection. So what PPE do you need to work on a construction site safely? There are many […]

In this article you will learn: Different types of ppe signage and symbols; Why safety symbols were developed; What safety symbols are; PPE symbols and their meanings; The different colours of safety symbols; How to know what PPE to wear in specific workplaces. Page Contents Why Were PPE Symbols Developed Safety symbol colours and their […]

Personal Protective Equipment generally goes by the acronym: PPE. It is the equipment that protects its users from health or safety risks. Most specifically, risks you would find in the workplace. The Ultimate Guide to PPE includes an explanation of all relevant PPE regulations, best practice advice for health and safety officers or those charged […]

The invention of Anti-vibration gloves were a gift from the PPE Gods for workers who use automatic equipment such as pneumatic tools, rivet guns, jackhammers, etc. As more and more tools became powered, there were more and more vibration injuries reported in the workplace. Many brands offer different protection for the person who is wearing […]

In a noisy work environment, having the correct PPE to protect your hearing is essential. There are several consequences if you do not have the right equipment: Tinnitus, Acoustic Trauma, Temporary Hearing Loss, Industrial/Occupational Deafness, even Complete Hearing Loss How do you choose the right hearing protection PPE for your particular industry?  Types of Hearing […]

We should never ignore the importance of PPE in the workplace. To understand how important it is, we need to understand what it is. The definition of personal protective equipment (AKA: PPE) is any items of safety equipment that protects the wearer against potential occupational health and safety risks. It is legally required for most […]

The Personal Protective Equipment Directive was updated in 2016 and came into effect in 2018. These changes to the PPE legislation define what PPE is and what it covers. Not only was it updated, but the PPE categories were changed along with the PPE Directive. There is now a maximum five year certificate validity according […]

As if you didn’t have enough to worry about at the minute, it has been brought to our attention that there are some very sophisticated PPE scams doing the rounds. As your trusted BSiF Registered Safety Supplier, XAMAX® are passing on the information we have recently received from one of our trusted suppliers. One of […]

PPE is designed to protect workers from workplace hazards and risk but PPE may not last as long as you may think. Once you have the equipment, your job is not over – It all depends on how often your PPE is used and in which conditions. PPE needs to be inspected regularly to measure […]

You need to know how to safely remove your disposable gloves without contaminating yourself – otherwise what’s the point of wearing them in the first place? Unless you learn the procedure to taking off your single use gloves safely, you are putting your hands and health at risk. That’s the same risk as not wearing […]

With the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reporting that there were 581,000 employees sustaining non-fatal injuries at work in 2018/19, it still seems that not enough is being done to protect workers. But what are the legal obligations faced by UK employers? What can be done to mitigate risk, and what are the consequences of […]

The weather can play a huge role in dictating whether or not it is safe to be working outdoors. Working in high winds is a risk that is less discussed but it can be just as deadly to ignore. Workers need to know the risks and hazards associated, and how best to mitigate them. Severe […]

Welding is hot, dirty and dangerous work. This means choosing the right Welding PPE is absolutely essential. Welders understand that personal protective equipment is not only crucial to staying safe in the workplace, it is essential to laying a good weld bead – so it is unlikely that you will see someone not wearing vital […]

In 2016, new cut resistance ratings for anti-cut gloves and sleeves in the EN388:2016 standards were announced, and in 2019 these standards began to find their way into PPE product. You will likely be familiar with Cut 1 – 5 resistance levels, but these are now deprecated. The EN388:2016 cut proofing levels now range from […]

Similar to regular PPE, Respiratory Protective Equipment (or RPE for short) is any facial protective equipment that is specifically designed to protect an individual’s airways from harmful airborne contaminants. However, in order to rightfully delegate your employees this PPE, not only must you understand the correct respiratory protection ratings for your environment, you must also […]

The first PPE Directive was adopted over two decades ago in 1992 and later revised in 2002, meaning an update was long overdue. On the 12th February 2016, the new regulation was adopted in order for industries to stay on top of burgeoning technologies designed to help keep employees safe in the workplace. The directive […]

Now that winter is coming to an end and the ground is finally starting to thaw, your grounds maintenance team will have much more work to do. The warmer weather means that your employees can get to work outside, clearing winter debris and preparing the work site for the months ahead. Make sure your team […]

The answer is simple. You need personal protective equipment that will help keep your workers safe from harm in the workplace. Even after putting all the relevant safety measures in place, it is vital you ensure all of your staff wear the correct PPE on site all of the time there is risk. Not only […]

How long does PPE last? Well, it may not be as long as you think – there is a recommended lifetime for every piece of safety equipment but it is determined under assumption of best practice and ideal conditions. Ideally, work boots would last 6-12 months on the job; hard hats and ear defenders should […]

As the temperature rises, it can be easy for your construction teams to ditch their personal protective equipment, but it is your responsibility to provide them with the correct construction site PPE. For outdoor construction workers, the main dangers are UV exposure and overheating. Too much sunlight is harmful for your skin and can lead […]

It’s a no-brainer that if you don’t maintain your PPE equipment, then it will not work properly. So why is ignoring PPE maintenance a terrible idea for your business? Bottom line: when safety goes out the window, accidents happen. If accidents happen at work, that means you lose time and money – in the form […]

Exposure to excessive noise levels can be severely harmful to your workers’ health, both short and long term. They are apparent in every industry and construction is up there with the highest noise and longest exposure levels. It is important to know what level of decibels is harmful to you and your workers and the […]

Eye safety is paramount for physical jobs such as working on a construction site or welding. Over 90% of cases of eye injuries reported could have been prevented with protective glasses. Over 2,000 people suffer each with an eye injury. If your workplace has decided that protective goggles or safety glasses are necessary, how do […]

There are over 15,000 potential signs that you can find in work places all over the UK. It is certainly an overwhelming number, but most signs offer mandatory protection. Safety clothing PPE signs indicate when, where, and which type of PPE has to be used or worn on a particular site – safety footwear, ear […]

It’s a hot day out on the construction site on a hot roof, an unusually warm British summer day. Your employee isn’t wearing his hard hat, or eye protection because they’re making his eyes and head sweat, but he is wearing some safety gloves. He’s no longer wearing a shirt, but he has his Hi […]

Personal protective equipment is essential for anyone working in hazardous conditions. Therefore, employers need to protect employees from harm. Likewise, other safety measures should be introduced first to protect your employees and PPE used as a last resort. Eye safety is paramount for those who work with glass, debris, chemicals, or mechanical parts that could […]

When the weather gets colder outside, it’s important to wear layers and cover up. Many people die in the UK winter because they are underprepared for the weather, so it’s vital that companies help workers understand what they need to stay warm. But it’s not just about staying warm. When workers are working vigorously outside, […]