PPE Workplace Requirements | Thorntons Solicitors

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought with it increased awareness around Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and what employees should be wearing in the workplace. PPE is protective clothing used to shield against health and safety risks. Some examples of PPE include: face masks, protective footwear, eye wear, gloves, hard hats, ear defenders, respirators and aprons.

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Making a PPE Risk assessment

Your specific PPE requirements will depend on the outcome of a risk assessment carried out by your employer. This risk assessment will identify what risks you take in your day to day duties. An in-depth risk assessment will also consider how these risks can be removed or, if this is not possible, how they can be mitigated. Mitigating the risk can involve the use of Personal Protective Equipment. However, all other measures of removing risks should be considered before using PPE. Essentially, PPE should be a last resort for employers and should not be used as an alternative to other safety measures.

It is important to note that Health and Safety requirements have not changed as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Any PPE you were required to wear prior to the pandemic should continue to be used unless a risk assessment has identified that the nature of the risk has changed and alternative or increased PPE is now required.

Appropriate use of PPE

It is imperative that your PPE fits appropriately. Your employer should provide training on how to use PPE effectively. This should include: how to ensure you are putting PPE on and taking it off correctly and how to make sure any face masks satisfy the face fit test.

It is also important that your PPE is maintained properly or replaced when required. Personal Protective Equipment should be stored according to manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. However, in some circumstances PPE can be reused. Manufacturer’s guidance will state whether the PPE you use can be reused. When reusing any PPE you must ensure it has undergone sufficient cleaning and decontamination prior to being reused.

PPE & Covid-19

For most professions, Coronavirus specific PPE will not be required. Social distancing measures, increased hygiene measures and reviewing how tasks are performed will be enough to remove or reduce the risk of infection. However, for some professions specific PPE may still be required.

Essential PPE for Health Care & Social Care Workers

For essential workers such as health Care & Social Care workers, PPE requirements will depend on what type of tasks you are carrying out. Different Personal Protective Equipment will be involved for Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGP), tasks where you are required to come within 2m of a patient and those tasks which are in an area where there are suspected/confirmed Covid-19 patients.

Examples of PPE that you may be required to wear include: Fluid Resistant Surgical masks, gloves, aprons, coveralls and eye protection. A risk assessment will identify what specific PPE you personally require.

Cleaning staff

If you are working in an area with possible or confirmed cases of Coronavirus, your PPE may include a face mask apron and gloves.

Pharmacy Employees

For those instances where social distancing measures cannot be implemented you may be required to wear a Fluid Resistant Surgical Mask.

Teachers

PPE generally will not be required. The exceptions to this are if close contact can’t be avoided or where a teacher is asked to physically support, assist or restrain pupils.

How can Thorntons help?

At Thorntons, our expert no win, no fee solicitors can assist you with your compensation claim following exposure to coronavirus.

We have a team of lawyers who specialise in pursuing claims for accidents at work. They deal with a range of claims arising from lack of PPE being provided to the wrong PPE being provided or not properly maintained.

If you think you or one of your family members may have sustained injury or contracted illness as a result of not having the proper PPE, contact us to find out whether we can pursue your claim.

You can start your claim today by calling us free on 0800 731 8434 or complete our enquiry form. We will talk through your situation, answer any questions you may have and advise you if you can make a personal injury compensation claim. Our discussion will be confidential and you are under no obligation to make a claim. You can also take a look at our Claims Calculator to find out how much compensation you may be entitled to.