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Employers are legally obligated to ensure, so far as reasonably practical, the personal safety of their employees, customers, and 3rd parties at their work sites. These responsibilities include the protection from the effects caused by hazards in the workplace which includes the use of PPE. PPE is a regular discussion topic between employees and safety professionals. Here is a selection of the frequently asked questions about PPE. Q. Why do I have to wear PPE? A. Employers are required by law to Risk Assess their activities to identify hazards and reduce the likelihood of personal injury to an acceptable level. This requires the implementation of Control Measures which often include the requirement to use PPE. Q. Do I have to wear PPE? A. The simple answer is YES. Where Mandatory Blue PPE signs are displayed this means that the requirement is mandatory. So as soon as you pass through an entrance where these signs are displayed YOU are required to wear the PPE as indicated. Q. Where are safety glasses required? A. Basically, wherever there is a significant risk to your eyes, eye protection is necessary. Safety glasses are manufactured to a specific standard which ensures that they can provide suitable protection. In many workplaces there are significant risks and you only have one pair of eyes so you need to look after them. Q. What if I am a prescription glasses wearer? A. If you work in a mandatory safety glasses area, your employer is legally obliged tol provide safety glasses to your prescription. Q. What hearing protection is available? A. Over ear defenders or disposable ear plugs are available. It is really down to personal preference which of these options you choose. Q. Why do I have to wear hearing protection? A. Legislation has set lower and upper action levels. At the lower level of 80dB(A) hearing protection must be available although its use is voluntary. At the upper level of 85dB(A) hearing protection must be worn. Certain industrial processes produce noise levels which exceed the upper action level. The employer must undertake regular noise assessments to monitor noise levels in the workplace. Q. When is it necessary to wear safety footwear? A. Safety footwear is required in workshop / yard areas, otherwise you are normally confined to designated walkways and offices. Many employers, in considering their legal obligations, choose to implement mandatory PPE rules at their worksites. These decisions are relayed to employees during New Employee Inductions and Safety Meetings, as part of their consultation and communication responsibilities. A typical PPE regime might be:- Yard areas:- Head protection (bump cap / hard hat), Safety footwear, and Safety glasses. Workshops:- Head protection (bump cap / hard hat), Safety footwear, Safety glasses, and Hearing protection (disposable ear plugs / over ear defenders) Additional task specific PPE may also be required, identified through Risk Assessment. Please contact Q Tech Solutions Ltd, via our Contacts Page, if you have any questions regarding the use of PPE.