Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy¶
| Document Reference | POL_HSQE_19 |
|---|---|
| Revision | 3 |
| Issue Date | 1st July 2025 |
| Next Review | 1st July 2026 |
| Status | Uncontrolled when printed |
Purpose¶
A M Water Services Ltd recognizes that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is our last line of defense against workplace hazards. This policy ensures we provide, maintain, and enforce the use of appropriate PPE to protect our workforce from residual risks that cannot be eliminated through other control measures.
Scope¶
This policy applies to all employees, directors, contractors, and visitors to A M Water Services Ltd premises and sites, covering all work activities including excavations, water repairs and maintenance.
Legal Requirements¶
This policy ensures compliance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2022, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Policy Statement¶
We follow the hierarchy of controls where PPE is always our last resort after we've considered eliminating hazards, substituting with safer alternatives, implementing engineering controls, and applying administrative measures. Every task undergoes risk assessment to determine specific PPE requirements based on the hazards identified, manufacturer recommendations, and industry standards. Our minimum standards for all construction sites include safety helmets, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear with steel toe caps, and appropriate eye and hand protection, with task-specific additions required for specialised work.
For our core water industry operations, we maintain enhanced PPE requirements that reflect the unique risks we face. During excavation work, our teams wear hard hats with chin straps, impact-rated safety glasses, ear defenders when breaking concrete, dust masks for cutting operations, and cut-resistant gloves alongside steel wellington boots. When repairing water mains or handling chlorination chemicals, we require all employees to comply with Risk Assessment PPE requirements. Our grab lorry operators must wear Class 3 high-visibility clothing when working on highways, safety boots with ankle support, work gloves for handling materials, and always wear hard hats when outside the cab.
We take PPE compliance seriously as it's a condition of employment with us. All new employees receive their PPE at induction where we ensure correct sizing, explain its purpose and limitations, and provide care instructions. We maintain individual PPE records documenting what's been issued, when it was provided, and tracking replacement history. Employees must store their PPE correctly, keep it clean, inspect it before use, and report any damage immediately. We replace PPE whenever it's damaged, exceeds its lifespan, no longer fits properly, or when standards are updated.
Implementation and Monitoring¶
Our employees conduct daily checks to ensure PPE compliance, supported by regular safety walks and behavioural observations. We provide comprehensive initial training covering why specific PPE is required, what protection it offers, its limitations, and correct usage. This is reinforced through annual toolbox talks and refresher sessions whenever new equipment is introduced.
For specialist respiratory protection, the majority of our workforce utilises hood-style systems, though face-fitted masks remain available for those who prefer them. We ensure appropriate training is provided for both options and maintain records of all examinations and certifications.
We accommodate religious and cultural needs wherever possible while maintaining safety standards, and collaborate with occupational health to support employees with medical conditions who may require alternative PPE solutions.
Responsibilities¶
Directors take overall responsibility for ensuring adequate PPE provision and maintaining this policy's effectiveness. Management leads by example, ensures everyone understands requirements, and provides necessary resources for PPE procurement and replacement. Supervisors monitor daily compliance, address issues immediately, and ensure proper storage facilities are maintained. All employees and contractors must use PPE as instructed, maintain it properly, and understand that non-compliance will result in disciplinary action ranging from verbal warnings to potential dismissal for repeated violations.
Review¶
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Directors to ensure it remains effective and continues to protect our workforce through appropriate personal protective equipment standards that reflect current legislation, industry best practice, and emerging risks in water industry operations.
Signed:
Aaron Mason Director A M Water Services Ltd 1st July 2025
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