Should employers provide PPE to their workers?
Even though much of the industry is now starting to get back to work, the vast majority of workers across the transport and logistics industry believe that it is their employers responsibility to ensure they have the correct protective equipment in the workplace.
A recent survey by Populas Data Solutions found that a significant number of workers would refuse to go to work without the right PPE. The survey, carried out for industrial workwear and protective clothing specialists Ballycare, also found that a large proportion of the sector's workers are still seeking clarity on PPE from their employers and the government.
When asked who should be responsible for ensuring workers have the right equipment to work safely, 89% of respondents in the transport and logistics sector said it is the employer’s role, while 27% also said the government should shoulder the responsibility.
These answers were close to the average result across all sectors, which showed that 87% felt it was the employer’s role, and 40% believed it was the government’s role.
The survey found that if an employer did not provide the employee with personal protective equipment, over a third of respondents in the sector said that they were very likely or likely to refuse to go into work (34%), compared to 26% who said they would still attend.
The survey results showed that a significant majority of workers in the sector want clarity on what protective equipment they should wear. 74% said they would feel safer in returning to work if their employers provide the right PPE - with 80% saying they wanted clear advice from their employer. At the same time, 67% said they also wanted clear advice from the government.
The analysis showed that if people were able to go into work tomorrow, a significant portion of the industry would not feel comfortable (25%), compared with those who said they would (32%).
A notable 12% said that they are back at work and do not feel comfortable.
Ballycare have taken the time to put together a new factsheet, clearly detailing to employers and employees which PPE should be worn across various workplace settings and how it can be worn most safely.
Silke Hendricks, MD of Ballyclare, said: “If people continue to feel insecure about returning to work, we could see a huge impact on the UK’s efforts to reopen the economy. The more employers can do to communicate the steps they are taking to make the workplace safe, the better. We have created a factsheet, based on our years of experience of working with PPE, to provide some practical advice as companies look to do everything they can to reopen their workplace in as safe a manner as possible."
