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Mandotory PPE

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Lex1212189
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Mandotory PPE

Post by Lex1212189 »

I work in Train Maintenance Depot.

PPE is provided (Bump caps in this instance) an worn around certain areas of the depot but not all.

After a few accidents/near misses lately, management is insisting on making hard hats mandatory around the whole site.

As a safety rep, I have to listen to other employees opinions and they are rejecting the idea. There main issues are: Temperature and lack of ergonomic considerations

Any guidance on this? I feel like devils advocate in this situation
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by David68 »

I am not a fan of mandatory, site-wide rules, particularly for PPE.

What were the near misses?
Would the wearing of head protection prevent injury or would other measures that are higher up the hierarchy of control be more effective?
What does the risk assessment say about head injuries.

I have changed the head protection PPE for our staff from hard hats to bump caps because I was able to implement a couple of additional measures with regard to working at height the likelihood of tools falling.
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by Elf&Safety »

I think you should try and get buy in... present facts and figures... show them consequences. Educate them as to why it benefits them. If a need has been identified and hard hats do need to be worn on site all the time; they have no choice except breeching section 7 of HASAWA; which to me can be gross misconduct. I don't like going down the discipline route; i would much prefer a buy - in / behavoural safety approach, but it depends on risk level to be honest.

Is there a genuine need or are managers just jumping the gun? Have they followed the hierarchy of controls? As in, PPE is the last resort..
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by Essex »

It is already mandatory for railway workers to wear hard hats?
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by Lex1212189 »

Not in a depot based environment I don't believe Essex
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by stephen1974 »

Can I ask what incidents have lead to the company saying bump caps are not suitable? or is this an over reaction situation?
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by Lex1212189 »

A ceiling panel fell down in the cab end of the trian and hit the shunter on the head. No riddor injury.

Panel was left up on the side of the train when stabled in depot. Engineer walking down walkway cut head. Riddor reportable.

It seems like a typical reaction of management......PPE EVERYWERE, ANYWERE and ALL THE TIME.

Im willing to work with management and make poe mandatory in certain areas but making in mandatory at all times I believe is counterproductive.

There has been no ergonomic considerations.
Theres is already a temperature issue on the trains affecting thermal comfort.
Nor has the hierachal approach to managing safety been abided by.

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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by stephen1974 »

Was the shunter wearing a bump cap and if so, did this protect him from injury?
Was the engineer wearing a bump cap and if so, how did he get cut?
How would a hard hat have made a difference in either case (if bump caps were worn?)

I guess you have to put your faith in hard hats, they wouldn't be used if they were no good, but my (very limited) experience of them is that they awkward to keep on your head and likely to fall off at the slightest knock, so not useful if seveal objects were coming down on you. Also, anything falling thats heavy enough or striking with anough force to split a decent bump cap open is likely to cause injury through crushing making a hard hat of limited use anyway. Though again, how many decades of use? clearly they serve a proper purpose.

One would hope that falling panels, or other items, are not a common place hazard, so i'm not seeing the argument for Hard hats.
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by The Instructor »

Just taking it back to basics, Clear up as you go method, if the panel had been placed in a specific area for such items rather than just lent up against the train, near a pedestrian route, then all would've been well.

So going forward, to prevent this kind of thing happening again, any loose items or materials or panels that need to be repaired are placed in a designated area, away from pedestrians or pedestrian routes.

Personally I would corner of this area and apply the appropriate signage, to warn others of potentially sharp objects.

Hazard sorted, risk lowered to 2% ....no real need for hard hats or even bump caps IMHO, although gloves would be a good idea if handling sharp edges of panels.
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Re: Mandotory PPE

Post by Lex1212189 »

Thanks for all the above advice.

Will take it all on board
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