Standards and rules to be respected in terms of PPE
Health and Safety
Does your process require compliance with strict health rules? Do you want to equip yourself with machines that comply with labor regulations? Is a disinfection process certified by an independent COFRAC accredited laboratory a necessity? Do you want to guarantee the technical properties of your PPE by using machines that meet the recommendations of the manufacturers? Is "made in France" for you a guarantee of compliance with existing rules?
HOW CAN WE REDUCE THE RISKS THROUGH PPE?
A large part of the health risks that appear in industry or businesses are risks originating from the outside. In the most serious cases, viral, bacteriological or pathogenic germ contaminations are the consequence of a lack or improper use of suitable equipment, the vectors of which are primarily the personnel of the company. To reduce these risks, the use of personal protective clothing and equipment is mandatory but not sufficient. It is necessary to guarantee daily disinfection of clothing, helmets, shoes or boots, gloves, mask or visors in order to ensure the most effective barrier to the risk of contagion. The use of ozone disinfection is a direct and effective response to these risks.
WHAT OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER, WHAT OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYEE?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is intended to protect the worker against one or more occupational risks. Their use should only be considered in addition to other elimination or risk reduction measures. It is from the risk assessment carried out in the company that the reflection on the use of PPE must be initiated
| the obligations of the employer | the obligations of the worker |
|---|---|
The employer has an obligation to ensure the safety of his employees. He can thus be held liable if the employee does not wear the PPE made available to him or does not comply with the instructions communicated to him on the conditions of their use. In order to enforce these instructions, the employer may take disciplinary sanctions up to and including the dismissal of the employee. The employer has, first of all, the obligation to obtain and make available to these employees PPE in accordance with the technical rules applicable to their design. PPE must be appropriate for the risks to be prevented, suitable for the worker and compatible with the work to be performed. The choice of employer is therefore guided by the analysis of the workstation. The employer "must ensure their proper functioning and their maintenance in a satisfactory hygienic state by the necessary maintenance, disinfection, repairs and replacements", in particular if the performance is impaired, if the expiration date has been reached. They are generally for personal use, but some PPE can be used successively by several workers. In this case, the employer is required to put in place the means to ensure that this shared use "does not pose any health or hygiene problem" | Along with employers' obligations, workers must also respect a number of obligations. They must in particular, in accordance with the instructions given to them by the employer concerning the means of protection, under the conditions provided for in the internal regulations for companies required to develop one, take care, according to their training and according to their possibilities. Their health and safety as well as that of other people affected by their acts or omissions at work. Compliance with these various provisions thus makes it possible to see the contractual liability of the employee who refuses to wear his PPE or fails to comply with his employer's instructions. |
PPE MAINTENANCE: WHAT STANDARDS AND WHAT CONTROLS?
The employer has the obligation to keep the PPE in compliance with the technical rules applicable when it is placed on the market by the manufacturer.
To ensure this maintenance in a state of conformity, the employer uses the information appearing in the instruction manual drawn up by the manufacturer: instructions for storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, overhaul and disinfection, date or expiration date of PPE or some of its components.
Periodic checks carried out under the employer's responsibility help to maintain PPE compliance. It defines the periodicity and nature. He ensures that they are carried out by a competent person, whether or not belonging to the company. For certain PPE, the regulations impose on the employer the nature and frequency of these checks (decree of March 19, 1993, OJ of March 28, 1993).
PPE AND INTERNAL REGULATIONS: WHAT GOOD PRACTICES?
The conditions for making PPE available by the employer are provided for by the french Labor Code:
- Free supply (PPE not considered as benefits in kind).
- Provision of means to ensure the hygienic condition of PPE (for example devices for washing, drying and disinfecting boots, masks, etc.).
- PPE for personal use
If the nature of the PPE and the circumstances allow its use by more than one person, appropriate measures are taken to ensure that such use does not pose any health or hygiene problem to the various users. For example, protective helmets provided to visitors on a construction site can be used by several people if they are disinfected between two users or if the user is wearing a disposable hygiene cap under the helmet.
- User information and training
The employer organizes information for workers on the following points:
- The risks against which PPE protects them;
- The conditions of use of PPE, in particular the uses for which they are reserved;
- Instructions or instructions concerning PPE and conditions of provision.
The employer draws up instructions for use at the workstation. It indicates that before each use, the worker must check the good condition of his PPE.
It includes PPE deterioration indicators (component wear, discoloration, holes or tears, etc.). If the PPE is no longer in good condition, it should be discarded.
The instructions also include information on how to properly adjust PPE (checking the tightness of respiratory protective devices, etc.) and removing PPE (procedure for removing protective gear against a chemical risk, in order to avoid contamination ...).
These instructions are contained in the company's internal regulations.
To develop the instructions for use, the employer uses the information contained in the instruction leaflet drawn up by the manufacturer when the PPE is placed on the market. This manual contains in particular the following data:
- storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, overhaul, and disinfection instructions;
- accessories that can be used with PPE as well as the characteristics of the appropriate spare parts;
- protection classes appropriate to different levels of risk and the corresponding limits of use;
- date or expiry date of PPE or some of its components;
- type of packaging suitable for transporting PPE;
- meaning of the marking.