Ian Kelsall, Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Technical Specialist at Draeger Safety UK, discusses what to consider when implementing RPE.
With almost two decades of professional experience in the safety industry, Ian Kelsall has played an integral role in many Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) development projects, contributing from concept creation through to user development testing.
Working across most sectors, he has extensive experience in supporting industry with RPE specification, training and end-user trials. In addition, he has contributed technical expertise to PPE Product Approval and Standardisation Committees.
Here, International Health & Safety Buyer finds out why choosing the right equipment is essential, but it is only the beginning. The true measure of success lies in how that equipment is managed, maintained, and used over time.
What are the main gaps in the roll out of RPE in the workplace?
Selecting RPE requires more than choosing a compliant product. It must be both adequate, i.e capable of protecting against the specific hazard, and suitable for the wearer, task and environment.
This means understanding the nature and concentration of the hazards that are to be protected against, as well as practical considerations such as fit, comfort and compatibility with other personal protective equipment (PPE). It is also important to consider the task being undertaken and the working environment, failure to do this often leads to poor adoption, misuse, or even an individual not wearing the device.
Finally, and crucially, tight-fitting RPE must fit the individual wearer. Without fit testing and ongoing reassessment, even technically ‘adequate’ equipment can fail to protect the user. Poor fit is the issue which crops up most often in RPE surveys.
What impact do these gaps have on employees?
When RPE is unsuitable, poorly fitted, incorrectly selected, damaged or badly maintained, workers may continue to inhale hazardous dusts, fumes, gases or vapours. The consequences can include respiratory irritation, occupational asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumoconiosis and cancer. Alarmingly, the HSE estimates that 11,000 lung disease deaths each year in Great Britain are linked to past occupational exposures.
Why should employers implement an effective RPE management programme?
While for many, the primary driver for introducing an RPE management programme is compliance, the benefits go far beyond this requirement. Effective RPE management supports commercial outcomes by reducing downtime, increasing worker productivity, and safeguarding reputation, as well as improving organisational culture by embedding safety as a core value rather than a tick-box exercise. Additionally, there is a moral responsibility to ensure workers are genuinely protected from long-term ill health.
In what ways are training and supervision important to ensuring proper RPE use?
RPE only works if it is used correctly. Workers must also understand why it is needed, how it functions, what to do if it is not working correctly, and what its limitations are.
Effective training covers the full lifecycle of use, from the correct way to put on and fit check the RPE, through to cleaning, storage, and disposal. This training should be reinforced regularly, not treated as a one-off.
Without proper training, bad habits can quickly develop, and once embedded, they can be extremely difficult to change, so suitable times to introduce RPE training include during a new employee’s induction period, when undertaking fit testing and when introducing new equipment.
