Using PBMs
As an employer, you must ensure that employees have access to PPE free of charge. From the RI&E (risk inventory and assessment), you can describe which PPE is needed. PBMs are an addition. First, of course, you want to prevent risks by removing dangers.
What are personal protective equipment?
These are agents that protect parts of the body against specific hazards that have been identified at work. This includes the risk of flying chips that can get into your eye. The chance that objects may fall on your head. Noise that can enter your ears too loud or toxic substances that you may inhale. But working outside in the summer can also be affected by the heat load.
Types of PPE and requirements
- There are various types of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
- Fall protection (for example: safety harnesses, safety belts and lanyards)
- Hearing protection (for example: orthoplasts, earmuffs)
- Face protection (for example: a face mask or welding mask)
- Eye protection (for example: safety glasses, goggles or goggles)
- Head protection (for example: safety hat or safety helmet)
- Foot protection (for example: safety shoes or safety boots)
- Protective clothing (for example: saw pants, safety jacket, chemical overalls)
- Respiratory protection (for example: dust mask, half mask, full face mask)
Requirements are set for all PPE. First, of course, it must protect the risk for which it is intended. In addition, the employee must then be able to work normally and must therefore not create new other risks. The manufacturer divides PPE into 3 risk categories, with each category having its own requirements that it must meet. Whether it complies is announced with the corresponding CE marking.
Category 1:
Against minimal risks. These are personal protective equipment that protects against:
- Superficial mechanical injury; Contact with fairly harmless cleaning agents or prolonged contact with water
- Contact with hot surfaces not exceeding 50 °C
- Eye damage due to exposure to sunlight (other than during sun observation)
- Weather conditions that are not extreme.
Examples of personal protective equipment in risk class I include sunglasses, rainwear and simple gardening gloves.
Category 2:
medium-risk personal protective equipment, not listed in categories 1 and 3. Most personal protective equipment falls under this category. Examples include safety shoes and a safety helmet.
Category 3:
personal protective equipment against risks that can have very serious consequences and cannot be undone. They relate to:
- Substances and mixtures that are hazardous to health
- Breathing air with too little oxygen
- Harmful biological agents
- Ionizing radiation
- Warm environment with effects similar to air temperatures of at least 100 °C
- Cold environment with effects similar to air temperatures of — 50°C or less
- Falling down from a great height
- Electric shock and live work
- Drowning
- Chain saw cuts
- High pressure jets
- Gunshot wounds or knife stings
- Harmful noise
Manufacturers of category 3 protective equipment are obliged to provide them with a European type approval. These products must also always come with proof of conformity with the product.
Employer and PBMs
An employer has a number of obligations towards its employees. This is to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees.
This means that the employer is obliged to provide employees with appropriate instructions and information about the use of PPE, including maintaining them. It must also be clear to employees when these Personal Protective Equipment should be used.
The employer must provide personal protective equipment to employees free of charge.
The employer must also ensure that the personal protective equipment is used and used correctly and that they are also properly maintained.
And finally, to clearly lay down their use and use in the house rules or employment agreement.
And the employee...
The employee in this case also has his/her obligations regarding the use of PPE. They are obliged to use them and to follow the user instructions. An employee is also obliged to attend the necessary information about the use of PPE.
How easily do you manage the request, approval and issuance of PBMs?
With ISO2 HANDLE you have access to a nice PBM module. Here, employees can request PBMs. As soon as they do this, the manager will receive a notification to approve this request. Once the manager has approved the request, the request is automatically forwarded to the buyer.
The buyer can order the items and when they arrive, they will report it. This immediately notifies the applicant that the requested PBMs can be picked up.
As soon as the items are collected, you can use the PBM collection form to sign that you have received the PBMs in good order.
Simple insights with graphs about this immediately provide the insight you want on your dashboard.
