BAF Highlight Safety Shortcomings

New accreditation scheme sets standards for abrasives safety training

The leading manufacturers of abrasive products fear that proper training in their safe use is being overlooked. It is often the result of confusion due to changes in legislation that have affected the burden of responsibility on both users and distributors of abrasives. Inadequate training from specialist providers is also an issue.

The British Abrasive Federation (BAF) states that its members’ products meet or exceed the highest worldwide safety standards. However, despite the huge effort, that goes into the design and production of safe abrasives, when technical staffs from manufacturers are called into investigate accidents involved their products, they find that the cause is often due to poorly trained operators and products being incorrectly mounted or used.

In an effort to resolve the problem, BAF has decided that clear guidelines are required on who should be trained and to what standard if accidents involving abrasive tools are to be reduced.

Chairman of the BAF, Dr Bill Gilmour, said, “Unless purchasers of abrasives are given the correct information as to their obligations to train not only operators and users but also specifiers and buyers, then the incidence is unlikely to reduce.”

The next step is to ensure that the training being delivered dramatically improves and to that end, BAF has brought together a group of leading experts within the abrasive industry. Using guidance from the Health & Safety Executive and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment regulations 1998), together with its combined experience of recorded accidents, the team has devised a standard stipulating the content and delivery to which all abrasives safety training programmes should adhere.

Kentec are proud to have been granted accreditation by the British Abrasives Federation to provide operator training courses in the safe use of abrasive products. We see this as a step closer to abrasive wheel training been facilitated in a structured, effective and professional manner.

Respirator/Face Mask Fit Test Service

The COSHH Regulations and the associated Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) recommend that the initial selection of tight fitting respiratory protection equipment  should include a fit test. This is to ensure that the selected respiratory protective equipment has the potential to provide adequate protection for the wearer.

Kentec are pleased to offer the Moldex fit testing service in cooperation with Moldex, a leading safety product manufacturer. This fitting service offers two main benefits, firstly to make sure that the respirator itself is suited for the wearers particular face shape, and secondly to make sure that the respirator is fitted correctly to get a tight seal and ensure safety against hazards in the workplace. It is important to remember it is the suitability of the respirator that is being tested.

You should carry out a pre-use check every time you put on your respirator. Always check that it is fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions, e.g. ensure that the straps and strip for moulding the respirator around your nose are correctly adjusted, then hold the mask in place and breathe in or out sharply. You should readjust the respirator if you detect any leakage around your face or your glasses steam up when you breathe out.

FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 are designed to filter out dust only. They must not be used where there is an oxygen-deficient atmosphere or harmful gases and vapours. You should discard most non-reusable disposable respirators at the end of the shift or sooner if they are heavily contaminated. Never hang up a respirator in a dusty place for use later on.

If wearing a respirator interferes with spectacles, hearing protection or head protection, a powered visor may be more suitable. Some retailers also sell products known as nuisance dust masks or comfort masks that look like dust respirators but are not marked with CE or with any standard. They often have only one head strap. These are not intended for use when a respirator should be worn. You should never use a nuisance dust mask instead of an approved respirator when working with construction dusts, fibres, grain dust or mouldy hay, straw, grain or other material that could cause occupational asthma or in any way harmful to lung. Packaging for these masks might be labelled, ‘This product does not provide respiratory protection’, or something similar.

Full face masks cannot be tested because the test hood is not large enough for the mask fitted with a filter. For testing this product it will be necessary to use the Quantitative method (discussed below). Qualitative Fit Testing can be used not only as a test method to ensure your employees are properly protected; but also as a very effective way of training them in the correct way of fitting a mask. Dust and half masks commonly fail to do the job they are intended to do because of poor fitting and care by the user. The seal between the face and the edge of the mask is the most common problem area. You will also see users using a mask after having kept it on their head or hanging round the neck.as a test method to ensure your employees are properly protected; but also as a very effective way of training them in the correct way of fitting a mask. Dust and half masks commonly fail to do the job they are intended to do because of poor fitting and care by the user. The seal between the face and the edge of the mask is the most common problem area. You will also see users using a mask after having kept it on their head or hanging round the neck.

The test employs a hood to create a small test chamber around the users head, and a test solution.This test solution has a bitter taste. It is the same type of solution that is put on childrens toys and fingernails to stop them chewing them. As the test uses these two consumable parts and is designed to be carried out by the employer; it is a very cost effective solution for assessing the ability of the selected Respiratory Protective Equipment and the training given to protect the employee.

New Senior IPAF Instructor

We are proud to confirm the recent appointment of our Managing Director, Steve Booker to Senior IPAF Instructor status. Steve’s new IPAF status in addition to our existing IPAF senior Instructor, James Carter, means that Kentec have two full time Senior IPAF Instructors providing the full range of IPAF Training Courses.

• IPAF Operator Training
• IPAF Demonstrator Training
• IPAF Instructor Training
• IPAF PAV Training
• IPAF Harness Training
• IPAF MEWPS for Managers