Workwear and PPE can be a tricky topic. There are a fair few rules and regulations involved, so it’s hard to be confident that what you already have in place is right. It doesn’t help that there are also a lot of misconceptions flying about too!
Luckily, we’re here to debunk those rumours and set the facts straight on workwear and PPE.
1. WORKWEAR AND PPE IS UNCOMFORTABLE
A lot of the time employees avoid wearing PPE because they believe it is just too uncomfortable to wear all day. Those protective steel-toe boots will be too heavy, that heavy duty boilersuit will be too hot, or those ear defenders will give you a headache.
But really, good quality protective workwear should not be uncomfortable at all. Manufacturers have developed technology designed to make workwear and PPE much more comfortable, for instance, you’ll find lightweight safety boots and trainers which live up to the same high safety standards but are much more comfy to wear for a long shift.
2. IT’S EXPENSIVE
Often employers worry that purchasing PPE for all their employees will work out incredibly expensive, due to the specialist nature of the clothing. But this just isn’t the case!
With our protective clothing starting from under £10, and great discounts to be found when you’re purchasing bulk quantities, protecting your staff does not need to be unaffordable. After all, it’s only a small price to pay for the safety of your workforce.
3. EMPLOYERS DON’T HAVE TO PROVIDE IT
If you work in a hazardous or dangerous environment then your employer actually has a duty of care to protect staff – which includes providing suitable PPE. Risk assessments must be carried out to identify exactly which safety clothing or equipment is necessary to adequately protect employees.
4. IF MY EMPLOYEES DON’T WANT TO WEAR IT, I CAN’T FORCE THEM TO
Something a lot of small business owners struggle with. But once all of the necessary risk assessments are carried out within a workplace and PPE is found to be essential for protection against hazards, then actually you can, and should, enforce its use.
5. PROTECTIVE GLOVES MAKE IT HARDER TO WORK
This has to be one of the most common misconceptions about workwear! However, if you’re wearing the correct gloves then this shouldn’t be the case. If you’re struggling to grip machinery or tools then you either need more lightweight gloves, or gloves with a grippy surface such as fixer gloves. We advise doing your research before purchasing any protective gloves.
6. IT’S HARD TO GET HOLD OF
Due to the more specialist or niche nature of some PPE products, it used to be tricky to get hold of exactly what you needed. But thanks to online retailers, such as ourselves, sourcing PPE online has never been easier and quicker!
7. QUICK JOBS DON’T REQUIRE PPE
How many times have you or a colleague thought ‘It’ll only take 5 minutes’ and decided not to use protective equipment for a job? Unfortunately, accidents can happen in seconds and can be completely unpredictable even to the most confident and experienced worker. Therefore it’s essential to always wear the right workwear.
At Pronto Direct you’ll find affordable and comfortable workwear and PPE for your business, if you order before 4pm we’ll dispatch your items the same day for you too.
