Your employer has a legal duty to provide you with a safe workplace where all dangers are removed where possible. Where the hazards pose a risk to employees and cannot be removed (perhaps because it’s a part of the nature of the work), employers must do all they can to provide protection for the employee, and this is where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comes in.
PPE can come in many forms to protect employees from head to toe. This can include things like:
- Safety helmets;
- Eye protection like goggles or glasses to prevent debris or excess light damaging the eye;
- Noise cancelling headphones or earmuffs to protect against damage from noise workplaces;
- Specially made clothing to protect against extreme temperatures or harmful substances;
- High visibility clothing so employees can be seen in low light;
- Breathing apparatus to stop employees breathing in harmful substances or materials;
- Protective gloves when working with extreme temperatures, dangerous chemicals, or equipment;
- Appropriate footwear to protect things against falling, or to provide necessary grip on slippery surfaces;
- Harnesses when working whilst suspended in the air or in an environment where the employee may easily fall.
PPE can be expensive, but the employer must provide the relevant protection to employees at the workplace free of charge. PPE must also be used in the correct way in order to utilise its full potential. Employers must make sure that:
- It’s kept safely and properly to prevent it from being damaged;
- It fits the user as best as it can;
- It’s actually being used when, and every time, it’s needed;
- Training and instructions are provided so the employee knows how to use it properly;
- It’s appropriate for the specific type of work to be done, in that environment, and with specific equipment; and
- It’s actually effective in protecting the employee.
What are your obligations?
If your employer has done everything listed above, you still need to protect yourself from injury too. Make sure you take the training provided so you can understand how to use the PPE most effectively. You must use the PPE provided each and every time it is required of you. Don’t think that, just because a job will only take a few seconds, you can do without it. You can usually only claim for a workplace injury if it was caused through no fault of your own.
When and how can you claim?
If you’ve been injured or suspect you have been harmed at the workplace due to PPE issues at work, write it in the accident book at work, or make sure you report it in writing. You need to note down exactly what happened and how you were affected as accurately and detailed as you can. If you need treatment, seek it, and ask for a copy of the medical report.
Contact The Injury Lawyers, we are a dedicated team of specialist lawyers, to help you bring a claim against your employer’s insurer. Don’t worry, it’s nothing personal: it’s exactly what the employer’s insurance policy is there for. You deserve to be compensated when you are injured at work when your employer does not provide you with an adequately safe workplace or PPE to protect you.