The UK Health and Safety Commission (HSE) has released for public comment and opinion Proposals for regulations to amend the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work, the Manual Handling Operations, the workplace and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.
The term ‘ergonomics’ has been added to the language in several of the above regulations. For example, guidelines concerning PPE currently state:
“The conditions of use of personal protective equipment, in particular the periods for which it is worn shall be determined on the basis of the seriousness of the risk, the frequency of exposure to the risk, the characteristics of the workstation of each worker and the performance of the personal protective equipment.”
Proposed changes include adding:
(b) it takes account of ergonomic requirements
and the state of health of the person or persons who
may wear it, and of the characteristics of the
workstation of each such person”.
Concerning the management of health, safety and welfare regulation, it is proposed to add the language:
In addressing health and safety needs the risk assessment should also cover welfare and ergonomic needs in particular the provision and suitability of sanitary appliances and access to them and the effect of the work equipment and workstation on the worker.
Comments will be received in any form. Those who wish to do so may use the questionnaire provided with the documents or available on the website.
All comments must be received by February 1, 2002
To view the proposed changes and make comments visit HSE.