BSIF launches “PPE Saves” campaign

The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has launched its “PPE Saves” campaign.

The BSIF said the campaign highlights the vital role performed by Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in protecting workers and ensuring people and businesses thrive.

The PPE Saves campaign has urged organisations to take great care and involve their employees when selecting these safety critical products.

PPE is sometimes undervalued, the federation added, yet it can mean the difference between life and death, safety and injury, long-term health and preventable harm. While other safety controls are essential, BSIF cited that PPE remains a vital line of defence when risks cannot be eliminated.

For example, the federation stated that incidents involving moving vehicles remain one of the leading causes of workplace deaths. Wearing high-visibility clothing can help workers stay seen and safe and reduce such incidents, it said. Another serious hazard is asbestos exposure, which the WHO identified as the top cause of work-related deaths globally. Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is crucial in protecting workers from inhaling these deadly fibres, the BSIF added.

The federation noted that PPE also prevents injuries, reduces severity and improves recovery outcomes:

• In a study of occupational use by the BMJ, the correct non-slip footwear has reduced falls by 49%.
• The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital reported that 90% of eye injuries could have been prevented by wearing the correct eye protection.
• Over one million people attend A&E in England and Wales with a head injury annually, according to NICE. Many incidents could be prevented or their severity reduced with the right safety helmets, it noted.
• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable with properly fitted hearing protection.
• The HSE also reported that hand injuries account for 25% of all non-fatal injuries in workplaces, yet these can be prevented with the right hand protection.

Alan Murray, BSIF CEO, said: “PPE is vital for protecting lives across Britain every single day. But not all PPE performs well and that’s a serious problem.

“ “PPE Saves” is a campaign dedicated to making sure workers have access to suitable and reliable PPE because investing in quality products isn’t just about safety, it shows you value your people.

“There’s a wide range of innovative, comfortable and sustainable PPE on the UK market. Yet poor-quality products are still in widespread use, compromising worker comfort and putting lives at risk. That’s why we’re raising awareness of what good PPE looks like, where to find it, and how to make sure it performs.”