Do Employers Have to Provide PPE for Coronavirus?

Coronavirus has created an unprecedented public health emergency in the UK and employers should be doing everything that they can to protect the health and safety of their workforce with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). Which brings up the question of what an employer needs to do in order to keep their employees safe from a coronavirus infection or to reduce its spread in the workplace.

Regulation 4 of the “Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992” states:

“Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.”

PPE issued in relation to COVID-19 needs only to be issued when a risk assessment shows that it is necessary. This will allow PPE to be concentrated on those that require it. When a risk assessment does show a need for PPE, then the equipment that you need depends on what you do and with whom and where you are working.

When it comes to PPE, the NHS and healthcare sectors must take priority. More than a third of nursing staff say they’re still under pressure to care for patients with possible or confirmed COVID-19 without adequate PPE. 

According to Unison, if you work in the NHS, or in a care homecare/domiciliary setting your employer will be getting their PPE from NHS Supplies. Social Workers, personal carers/assistants, unpaid/informal carers, palliative care, non-residential substance misuse, retirement, private healthcare facilities and other occupational groups do not currently get their PPE from NHS Supplies. However, some of these organisations should have their own alternative suppliers. Personal carers can ask their local authority care service or Clinical Commissioning Group for assistance.

For employees working in other industries, unless a risk assessment shows otherwise, then measures such as working from home, workplace adjustments, hand washing and other hygiene measures, along with following government guidelines on social distancing and self-isolation are the most effective preventive measures. PPE can be considered alongside these.

The government also offer the following advice:

• where possible, alter business-as-usual ways of working to ensure social distancing can take place. In some circumstances this could involve the erection of physical ‘splash barriers’ to decrease staff anxiety, or redesign of customer flows to minimise contact opportunities.
• ensure staff are aware and signs are visible in the workplace reminding employees and customers not to enter the premises if they have COVID-19 symptoms such as a high temperature or persistent cough (or a member of their household displays symptoms) and to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• that employees are provided with regular breaks to allow them to wash their hands for 20 seconds. Break areas and break times should also be set up to allow for social distancing to occur to minimise contact during these times.

At Work & Wear Direct we stock a range of PPE, including items such as hand sanitiser and wipes and respiratory protection. All of our PPE products are high quality and are CE marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations of 2002.