Safety Gloves

Employer’s Duty: Ensuring PPE Glove Compliance in the UK Workplace

By Firstworkwear
5 min read

Protecting your employees is paramount. In the UK, employers have a legal responsibility to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety gloves, to safeguard their workforce from workplace hazards. Failure to comply can result in significant fines and legal repercussions. This comprehensive guide clarifies your obligations regarding PPE glove compliance under UK regulations.

Understanding Your Legal Obligations: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

The cornerstone of UK workplace health and safety is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This legislation places a general duty of care on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees. This includes providing and maintaining suitable and sufficient PPE, such as safety gloves, where risks cannot be controlled through other means.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

COSHH regulations are particularly relevant when considering glove selection. If your employees handle hazardous substances, appropriate gloves must be provided to prevent skin contact and absorption. This requires a thorough risk assessment to identify the specific hazards and select gloves with the necessary protection levels.

Conducting a Thorough Risk Assessment for Hand Protection

Before selecting and providing safety gloves, a comprehensive risk assessment is crucial. This involves identifying all potential hand hazards in the workplace, evaluating their severity, and determining the necessary level of protection required. Consider these factors:

Identifying Hazards:

  • Mechanical hazards: Cuts, abrasions, punctures, crushing injuries (e.g., working with sharp objects, machinery)
  • Chemical hazards: Contact with corrosive substances, solvents, irritants (e.g., handling chemicals, cleaning agents)
  • Biological hazards: Exposure to bacteria, viruses, bodily fluids (e.g., healthcare settings, waste disposal)
  • Thermal hazards: Extreme temperatures (e.g., handling hot or cold materials)
  • Electrical hazards: Contact with live electrical equipment

Evaluating Risk Levels:

Once hazards are identified, assess their likelihood and severity. A higher likelihood and severity indicate a greater need for robust hand protection.

Selecting the Right Safety Gloves: A Guide to Glove Types

The choice of safety gloves depends entirely on the identified hazards. There’s a wide variety available, each designed for specific purposes:

Types of Safety Gloves and Their Applications:

  • Cut-resistant gloves: Made from materials like Kevlar or high-performance polyethylene, protecting against cuts and lacerations (e.g., working with knives, sheet metal).
  • Chemical-resistant gloves: Constructed from materials like nitrile, neoprene, or butyl rubber, offering protection against various chemicals (e.g., handling acids, solvents, cleaning products). The specific chemical resistance needs to be checked against the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of the substance handled.
  • Heat-resistant gloves: Made from materials like leather, silicone, or aluminized fabrics, protecting against heat and burns (e.g., handling hot materials, welding).
  • Cold-resistant gloves: Often insulated gloves, protecting against frostbite and cold injuries (e.g., working in cold storage, outdoor environments).
  • Anti-vibration gloves: Designed to reduce the transmission of vibrations to the hands, preventing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) (e.g., operating vibrating tools).

Ensuring Proper Glove Use and Maintenance

Providing the right gloves is only half the battle. Employers must also ensure employees understand how to use and maintain them correctly:

Training and Instruction:

Provide comprehensive training on the proper use, donning, and doffing of safety gloves. Explain the limitations of each glove type and the importance of inspecting gloves before each use. Emphasize the importance of reporting any damage or defects.

Glove Storage and Hygiene:

Gloves should be stored correctly to maintain their integrity and prevent contamination. Provide clean and dry storage areas. For gloves used in handling hazardous substances, appropriate disposal procedures must be followed.

Regular Inspection and Replacement:

Inspect gloves regularly for signs of wear and tear, damage, or contamination. Replace gloves immediately if any damage is detected. Establish a clear schedule for glove replacement to ensure continuous protection.

Record Keeping and Compliance Audits

Maintaining accurate records is essential for demonstrating compliance with PPE regulations. Keep records of:

  • Risk assessments
  • Glove selection justifications
  • Employee training records
  • Glove inspection and replacement logs
  • Incident reports related to hand injuries

Regular compliance audits help identify areas for improvement and ensure ongoing adherence to regulations. Consider engaging a health and safety professional for assistance with audits and risk assessments.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with PPE regulations can lead to severe consequences, including:

  • Prosecutions: Employers can face prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, leading to significant fines and even imprisonment in serious cases.
  • Civil claims: Employees injured due to inadequate PPE can bring civil claims against their employers for compensation.
  • Reputational damage: Non-compliance can damage your company’s reputation and affect employee morale.

Providing appropriate safety gloves is not merely a legal obligation; it’s a moral imperative. By conducting thorough risk assessments, selecting suitable gloves, providing adequate training, and maintaining accurate records, employers can effectively protect their employees from hand injuries and ensure compliance with UK PPE regulations. Prioritizing employee safety is an investment that safeguards your workforce, your business, and your reputation.