Union issues reminder about the need for protective gloves and safety boots

The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) has called on all agencies which recruit workers for the building industry to supply them with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as protective gloves and safety boots.

Speaking at CONIAC - the Health and Safety Executive's Construction Industry Advisory Committee - Dennis Doody, UCATT executive council member, said the union has found that agencies are 'forcing workers to supply their own PPE'.

'This is against safety regulations and, given growing concerns about fake and counterfeit PPE being available in the construction industry, places already vulnerable workers at greater risk of injury,' he added.

The union noted that safety regulations established in 1992 state that an employer cannot ask for money from an employee for PPE and must supply it where risks cannot be adequately controlled in other ways.

However, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation said its agency members were committed to the adhering to health and safety regulations.
 

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