Asbestos is the leading cause of death in UK workplaces, which makes protecting yourself and your workers from its harmful effects incredibly important. HSE have recently launched a new campaign to help building owners, landlords, and people responsible for building maintenance understand their legal duty to manage asbestos.

The responsibility of a “dutyholder” is to ensure that they are aware if there is asbestos in present in the building, arrange an asbestos survey, and create an asbestos management plan. It is also the responsibility of a dutyholder to ensure that all staff are provided appropriate PPE when working in an environment that contains asbestos.

Fortunately, at Online Safety Supplies, we have a range of PPE workwear that can help keep you and your workers safe from the damaging effects of asbestos. Here are just some of the PPE options we have available.

ABEK1P3 READY TO USE HALF MASK

The most important piece of PPE when working with asbestos is a respirator. When materials containing asbestos are disturbed, the fibres can end up in the air. A respirator protects you from inhaling those dangerous fibres.

Ready to use and maintenance free, the ABEK1P3 half mask is manufactured from durable and flexible TPE and features integrated filters that make it ideal for protecting you from inhalation of deadly substances like asbestos. Its compact design ensures that its properly weighted and provides you with a wide field of vision.

The ergonomic head harness reduces pressure and helps you stay comfortable all throughout the work day. This half mask also allows you to stay cool even in hot and humid conditions thanks to its high-performance exhalation valve. The drop-down head strap also makes it easy to remove. The ABEK1P3 ready to use Half Mask offers some of the best performance and value within our CE-CAT III range.

XTREME SMS 50 COVERALL TYPE 5/6

Asbestos fibres can easily cling to hair, skin and clothing. That means that, even if you avoid inhaling any asbestos in the workplace, there is still a risk that you might bring it home with you. That’s why a set of chemical resistant coveralls that can be cleaned or discarded is absolutely essential.

The Chemsplash Xtreme SMS 50 is made from extremely breathable SMS fabric suitable for prolonged periods of use. Featuring an elastic cuffs and ankles, with a two-way zip and an adhesive cover flap.

Its strong and robust properties provide a good chemical barrier especially to dry hazardous particles like asbestos fibres, whilst being extremely comfortable to wear offering the best value within our Cat III Type 5 & 6 range.

Whatever PPE you or your workers require, you need to make sure that you always prioritise quality. Your safety is simply too important not to make your number one priority. To find out more about our range of specialist workwear, you visit our website here.

High Visibility with Gore-Tex Clothing Fabric

What is Gore-Tex?

Gore-Tex "A synthetic waterproof fabric permeable to air and water vapour, used in outdoor and sports clothing." (Google Dictionary Gore-Tex)

Benefits of Gore-Tex:

• Waterproof
• Windproof
• Lightweight
• Breathable
• Made from Polytetrafluoroethylenee (PTFE)

Using a fabric membrane, this ensures that these garments are suitable for all-weather use. Gore-Tex is made from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and is used for outdoor clothing such as jackets, footwear and accessories.

Benefits of Polytetrafluoroethylenee (PTFE)

• Porosity (low and high)
• High specific surface area
• High chemical resistance in harsh environments
• Chemical inertness of polytetrafluoroethylene surface
• High thermal stability
• Resistance to ultraviolet rays
• Excellent weatherability outdoors
• Low coefficient of friction
• Low water adsorption (0.04% at room temperature)
• Low flammability (limiting oxygen index is 95%)
• Performance at extreme low and high temperatures
• Strength (high strength-to-weight ratio)
• Low dielectric constant (2.0)
• Low loss coefficient
• Biocompatibility

Early Years of Gore-Tex

In 1959, nearly six decades ago, the company Gore-Tex was formed and then in 1969, Bob Gore invented the fabric which is able to keep water and rain outside and allow perspiration to escape from the inside. The material is incredibly strong, microporous and groundbreaking.

How it Works

Fire Retardant | Clothing | Everything You Need to Know

What is a Fire Retardant?

Flame or fire retardant is the process of either using chemicals or materials that will aid in slowing or preventing the spread of a fire.

Our fire retardant fabric clothing is not flameproof, however, it can be used to smother a fire into extinguishing.

A chemical can be added to flammable materials to prevent or slow down fires and increase the amount of time a victim has to escape.

• How easily does the product ignite?
• How much heat is released when it burns?
• How does the fire spread on a surface?
• The way in which it disintegrates as it burns
• What quantity of smoke is released?

Noise does not have to be extremely loud to have consequences to workers in the workplace. Hazards for workers can include an increased risk of accidents due to warnings not being heard and increased prevalence of work-related stress.

Each employer has a duty to protect their staff by providing PPE which is a mandatory legislation. Making the workplace safe not only includes PPE but providing employees with procedures, instructions, training and supervisions. PPE is integral in making your workplace safe.

Working at height risks include when the risk of a fall is from low heights where a person could be injured along with falling from higher heights such as from scaffolding etc. There are a range of common areas that are a concern for working at height including the following:

Construction sites have a range of dangers and risks that require workers to wear personal protective equipment to keep them safe. As an employer it is your duty to protect your staff by providing PPE to make your workplace safe. PPE requirements are covered by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations.

At Online Safety Supplies we offer the mask face fit test and train the trainer mask fit course. The mask face fit testing is ideal in order to protect the wearer from harmful dust and fume which contributes to up to 13,000 deaths each year.

Employers have a vital role in order to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. During this pandemic, employers and employees will be feeling concerned and anxious about their safety, health and wellbeing which is why it is important for employers to do the following:

In the construction industry there are multiple dangers and risks that require PPE, in particular hard hats. As an employer you have a duty to protect your staff by providing PPE to make your workplace safe. PPE requirements are covered by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations which also now include hard hats on construction sites.