In October, Northampton magistrates fined builders’ merchant Jewson £14,000 for supplying hard hats that did not meet the shock absorption test EN 397. Jewson withdrew the helmets when it was told they did not meet the requirements but estimated it had sold 63,000 of them over the previous 11 years.   

In February, the BSIF issued a safety warning about other helmets being sold under the brand name ‘Burly’ and ‘MkII’. These helmets are copies of the MkII safety helmet, a product made by JSP in the UK and should not be confused as being one and the same. The ‘Burly’ helmets do not meet the requirements of the British and European Standard EN 397. 

The problem is on the increase but the solution is at hand in the form of the BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme (RSSS). The scheme ensures that all PPE is tested to the known performance requirement as stipulated by CE standards and that you are buying from a recognised and reputable source.

Organisations that become part of the scheme have to fulfil the following criteria:

• Be an approved BSIF member with an obligation to operate in a legal and ethical manner
• Sign a formal and binding declaration, to be included in its quality manuals, stating that the safety products it offers are legal, fully comply with the PPE regulations and are appropriately CE marked
• The declaration is audited through special provisions set out within the company’s ISO9001 Certification
• Under the RSSS this independent audit is one of the key requirements to independently verify conformance.

When budgets are tight it’s tempting to buy cheaper safety products but, if they don’t fit properly, workers are less likely to wear them. A flimsy pair of gloves that tear easily or a face mask that keeps falling off are safety hazards. PPE needs to meet EU standards not only to protect workers but to protect companies from being penalised in court . 

To find out more about RSSS, please visit www.bsif.co.uk