Thursday 19 February 2004 - News - Health and safety
Protective equipment must be provided for free
Caterers are being reminded
of their duty to provide workers with free personal protective equipment
(PPE).
The Health and Safety Executive said the duty applied to catering employers both in the private and the public sectors.
Percy Smith, HSE principal inspector for catering, said: "Recent reports to HSE from unions and groups of workers indicate that some employers providing safety shoes or other items of PPE are classing them as part of the work uniform and charging workers for them.
"Regrettably we receive similar reports regularly over the years. Catering employers must understand that the practice of charging in this way is illegal."
Mr Smith pointed out that the risk of injury from slipping was higher in the catering industry than most others and worker complaints about having to buy protective footwear were "prominent" in reports to the HSE.
He added that PPE should not be the "first step" in dealing with the risk of slips. He said avoiding spills on to the floor, immediate cleaning and provision of non-slip flooring surfaces were some of the key steps in achieving a high degree of control.
Slips, trips and falls are the most cause common causes of major injuries in UK workplaces, accounting for around one third of the total. They are also responsible for almost a quarter of all other non-fatal accidents reported.
Angie Bell
The Health and Safety Executive said the duty applied to catering employers both in the private and the public sectors.
Percy Smith, HSE principal inspector for catering, said: "Recent reports to HSE from unions and groups of workers indicate that some employers providing safety shoes or other items of PPE are classing them as part of the work uniform and charging workers for them.
"Regrettably we receive similar reports regularly over the years. Catering employers must understand that the practice of charging in this way is illegal."
Mr Smith pointed out that the risk of injury from slipping was higher in the catering industry than most others and worker complaints about having to buy protective footwear were "prominent" in reports to the HSE.
He added that PPE should not be the "first step" in dealing with the risk of slips. He said avoiding spills on to the floor, immediate cleaning and provision of non-slip flooring surfaces were some of the key steps in achieving a high degree of control.
Slips, trips and falls are the most cause common causes of major injuries in UK workplaces, accounting for around one third of the total. They are also responsible for almost a quarter of all other non-fatal accidents reported.
Angie Bell
