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Compliance with health and safety regulations is crucial for a wide range of industries in Ireland, which is why it is vital to understand exactly how to conduct a safety wear audit for your business.
This type of audit is an essential step in maintaining a safe working environment and avoiding financial or legal repercussions of non-compliance.
In this article, we explore how to conduct a comprehensive safety wear audit for your company, in the interest of protecting both your workforce and the future of your business.
The importance of a safety wear audit should never be underestimated by business owners. The process helps to identify regulatory errors or potential gaps in safety practices within your business, ensuring that compliance and the safety of individual workers are continuously prioritised.
The audit involves reviewing the types of PPE provided, ensuring it meets the required standards, and confirming that employees are using the equipment correctly.
In Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) sets stringent guidelines for safety workwear, and failing to comply can result in hefty fines and even prosecution. Regular audits help businesses stay proactive in addressing any safety concerns before they become issues.
Here are our expert tips to help you conduct a smooth and effective safety wear audit in the workplace.
Assessing the working environment or specific job tasks is crucial to determine the appropriate safety wear that will be required.
Different conditions, such as exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures, or heavy machinery, require specialised PPE. Understanding these factors ensures that employees are adequately protected, minimising risks and enhancing overall workplace safety and compliance.
Once the correct type of safety wear has been established, it’s vital to check what safety standards these need to adhere to.
In Ireland, safety workwear must comply with specific European Norm (EN) standards to ensure adequate protection for workers. Below is a brief example of the many existing EN standards, which relate to commonly used safety workwear:
By adhering to these and other EN standards, business owners can stand by the efficacy of their safety workwear, ensuring it meets stringent European safety criteria and provides maximum protection for employees in various work environments.
Equally important is keeping up to speed with Irish law surrounding safety workwear. As such, before purchasing or checking new or existing safety wear as part of your audit, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the relevant Irish regulations.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, which govern the use of PPE in the workplace, outline the responsibilities of employers to provide suitable PPE, ensure its proper use, and maintain it in good working order.
Understanding these legal requirements will help you evaluate whether your current safety practices align with the law.
Another key step in conducting a safety wear audit is to create a comprehensive inventory of all the PPE currently in use. This includes helmets, gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety shoes, eye protection, ear protection and any other equipment required for your specific industry. Make sure to document the following details for each item:
An accurate inventory allows you to assess the current state of your safety wear and identify any equipment that may need to be replaced or upgraded.
Ill-fitting safety wear is not only uncomfortable to wear, but it may not provide adequate protection.
During your audit, it is therefore important to check that all safety wear fits your employees correctly. Encourage employees to provide feedback on the comfort and fit of their equipment, as this input is invaluable for identifying issues that may not be immediately apparent.
Safety wear requires regular maintenance to ensure its effectiveness. Reviewing your current maintenance practices and schedules during your audit is one way of ticking this box.
Firstly, check if PPE is being cleaned, stored and inspected correctly. Secondly, establishing a replacement schedule based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and the condition of the PPE is advisable. Items that are damaged or worn out should be replaced immediately.
Having a clear policy on maintenance and replacement helps prevent the use of defective or outdated safety wear.
After completing the audit, document your findings in a detailed report, highlighting any deficiencies, non-compliance issues, or areas for improvement. Following this, it’s vital to prioritise actions that need to be taken.
Share the results of the audit with management and employees to promote a collaborative approach to improving workplace safety. Implement the necessary improvements promptly, and consider scheduling regular audits to continuously monitor and enhance your safety practices.
If you are unsure about any aspect of your safety wear audit or need assistance in meeting Irish compliance standards, seek expert advice from Ark Safety.
We specialise in providing tailored safety solutions for businesses and with the help of our expertise, you can proactively stay on top of health and safety regulations and ensure your PPE policies are up to date. With thousands of PPE and workwear products to choose from in our online store, paired with our unparalleled regulatory knowledge, we offer a quality service that is sure to leave no questions unanswered.
If you’re planning on conducting a safety wear audit for your business, contact us today for the help and advice that will transform it into a smooth and successful process.
