Health & safety bulletin
Annual PPE Needs Analysis Review
26th March 2009
As part of our annual review of PPE Needs Analysis, we have discussed our job specific requirements with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and re-appraised the type of lanyards that we issue.
The outcome of the discussions is that we will be replacing all 1.8m shock absorbing lanyards that comply with EN 354/355. In their place, we will supply 2m adjustable restraint lanyards that comply with EN358 and may be adjusted to suit an individual's height. This therefore means they prevent you from movement to the extremes of the working platform e.g. standing on handrails, in order to prevent you falling, rather than saving you if you do.
The new lanyards will be issued by your supervisor and should be used at all times on all types of mobile elevated work platforms (i.e. cherry pickers, booms and scissor lifts). Lanyards should be regularly inspected as per the guidance given on your IPAF safety harness training course.
This means now that EVERY machine should be supplied with an anchor point, and harnesses and lanyards should be used correctly in all access machines, on all jobs. If a machine is delivered without anchor points, report it to your supervisor and it will be logged against the supplier and recorded as a non-conformance.
In addition, following the presentation and interactive glove selection exercise at our December safety awareness day, we have reviewed all our JSAs and Safety Method Statements to specifically refer to the type of glove suited to the task, along with the following minimum performance ratings:-
- Abrasion resistance
- Blade cut resistance
- Tear resistance
- Puncture resistance
We took details of the samples of gloves that were preferred by each trade/for each task, and those details will be shared with those who were present at the safety awareness day. Also, gloves have been ordered that suit each individual's preferred choice and exact size. They will soon be handed out by the supervisors in conjunction with a toolbox talk on PPE in general.
If anyone is unclear on any of the above issues or requires any guidance or clarification whatsoever, please feel free to contact either me or your supervisor.