Just a query re: hard hats.

patman99

I have been offered a days work as a labourer on a building site (with more to follow next week). Was just wondering if there was a specific coloured hard-hat for labourers as all I could find in my local builders merchants was either blue (which I bought) or white.

I don't want to end-up being sent home as I don't have the correct kit.

Gettingtherequickly

Our guys on site wear white, merely because the company name is more visible. We bought a pink one for one of our clients, at least she knew it was hers anytime she wanted to visit!

As long as you are wearing the correct clothing for the site, I wouldn't worry.

patman99

Thanks. It has been nearly 26 years since I last worked in construction so am hoping this will be the door that opens and lets me in. My real skills are painter/carpenter, so will hopefully be able to convince them to let me work as a skilled trade eventually.

ohreally

Why is the employer not providing them?

patman99

Employer is an agency, so have to provide own PPE. Mind you, I got a new pair of safety boots when I started the MWA placement I got dismissed from after 3 days and I have had a hi-vis vest for several years, so £14 for a hard-hat is not breaking the bank if it gets me a job.

sleepymans

I think a white hard hat would fit the bill.
Good luck with the work, OP

Takeaway_Addict

patman99 wrote: »

Employer is an agency, so have to provide own PPE. Mind you, I got a new pair of safety boots when I started the MWA placement I got dismissed from after 3 days and I have had a hi-vis vest for several years, so £14 for a hard-hat is not breaking the bank if it gets me a job.

I know you're not bothered and its rocking the boat and all that but I would expect that regardless if its agency they are still the employer and should provide PPE?

Unless they are exempt but I'd be surprised

ohreally

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Unless they are exempt but I'd be surprised

I believe the duty is absolute.

Elfbert

The only thing I've ever had bother with being certain colours is hi-viz. Some sites keep orange for slinger/banksmen only.

My old firm had blue hats, my current one it's white.

@Gettingtherequickly - If anyone ever bought me a pink hat I'd swap it with theirs! (unless it was really nice.)

dickydonkin

patman99 wrote: »

Employer is an agency, so have to provide own PPE.

No you don't.

Section 9 of the Health & Safety at Work clearly stipulates that "No employer shall levy or permit to be levied on any employee of his any charge in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of any specific requirement of the relevant statutory provisions".

Section 9 applies to these Regulations because they impose a 'specific requirement' - i.e. to provide PPE.

Furthermore, 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.

For clarification, 'shall' is absolute.

I fully appreciate that someone registered with an agency may not wish to make an issue of whether it should be the agency or their client who should provide PPE, however, in my experience, you will find that the agency's client - who in effect is the duty holder responsible for the workers on their premises and others who may be affected by their operations will provide personal protective equipment.

There may be stipulations in the contract between the agency and their client that may specifically define who is the 'employer' or who indeed has to provide PPE, however, irrespective of what these contractual agreements are, the 'worker' should never have to pay for PPE or indeed anything related to their health and safety (such as training).

Unfortunately, many people who are registered with agencies will willingly supply their own PPE rather than compromise their chances of obtaining work - and many agencies play on this which is morally and potentially legally wrong.

Legal aspects aside, with so many items of fake or sub standard PPE openly available, it is understandable that the cheapest and nastiest option will be purchased by agency workers just to say they have it - whether such equipment will suitably protect the worker is another matter!

I have no love of employment agencies - many of their 'consultants' have to attain targets which in many cases results in totally incompatable matches between worker, employer and roles - but don't get me going on that issue!

skivenov

Always used to be yellow for a labourer, white for a boss or surveyor, blue for a spark. Everyone seems to wear white now.