“Anyone can sell Safety but you wouldn’t buy Safety from anyone”.

If the outcome of an employer’s risk assessment includes the necessity for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) it is the law that it must provide adequate protection against the hazard and it must be suitable for the individual.

The Registered Safety Supplier Scheme, administered by the BSIF, historically focused on the threat posed by fake and counterfeit products and fake and counterfeit certification. However, in addition to this problem, a much more pernicious threat has become apparent over the last 18 months and that is the failure of PPE to match the performance that the CE certification claims and crucially the performance that users anticipate.

We have seen increasing evidence that PPE products in the market fail to perform. Many products in Category I such as leather gloves contain Chromium VI and Azo dyes and therefore fail the CE Basic Requirements of Safety and Health where the PPE itself actually contains a threat to the user. This has been the subject of a National Trading Standards investigation this year.

Perhaps the most startling examples come in Category II (which include safety footwear, safety helmets and high visibility clothing) where the performance claims from the original, one time, type testing are just not being achieved. It has therefore become absolutely necessary to strengthen the terms of the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme to address this. 

The number of non-compliant, illegal and poorly performing safety products offered for sale in the UK market is significant and all organisations and individuals sourcing PPE and related equipment need assurance that the markings, documentation and claims for the performance of the product are still valid.

The BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme is being strengthened to provide assurance to PPE customers and users that only compliant and correctly performing products are supplied.

A Registered Safety Supplier Scheme member…

• Formally declares and commits to selling only Certified PPE that performs to claims made
• Submits their product to random independent scheme testing by an accredited laboratory
• Commits to having their customer facing staff educated and accredited in the Safe Supply Course
• Maintain a company Quality Policy
• As a Federation member trade honestly and ethically

 Who benefits …

• The purchasers and end users of PPE – with product that performs – sourced from capable suppliers
• Registered Safety Supplier Scheme members – as they become the suppliers of choice in the market 
• The market becomes a level playing field as unscrupulous suppliers are de-selected and unfair competition is removed 

Is your supplier a Registered Safety Supplier Scheme member?

Look for the logo. A full listing of Registered Safety Suppliers can be found on www.bsif.co.uk/registered-safety-supplier

Anyone can sell Safety but you wouldn’t buy Safety from anyone. Insist on a Registered Safety Supplier for your Personal Protective Equipment.