Can I trust the safety products I buy?
December 1st 2008 The short answer is yes if you know what questions to ask or yes if you use a BSIF Registered Safety Supplier.
The recent increase in PPE and other safety products which do not meet the standards stated is casting serious doubt on the ability to purchase equipment that will perform adequately in protecting people at work. The possibility that these noncompliant products might contribute to injuries, temporary loss of key staff, compensation claims, prosecution and worse is a real concern.
With all this in mind, the BSIF is to launch its Registered Safety Supplier scheme early in January. This scheme is designed to provide a visible badge for use by suppliers. The scheme logo will identify them as providers of genuine PPE and Safety Products. Whilst the BSIF already has a code of practice which is obligatory for companies to join the Federation and maintain their membership, the Registered Safety Supplier scheme is only available to organisations which have made a binding declaration that their product ranges are in compliance with the various regulations which apply to the safety products they sell.
Initially, the Registered Safety Supplier logo will be available for PPE manufacturers and other organisations which have responsibility for the CE marking on their products and for specialist distributors of safety products who have an obligation to ensure that the products they source for re-sale are in compliance. The colour code will identify whether the supplier is a manufacturer, distributor or both.
All Registered Safety Suppliers will have signed a simple declaration to confirm their compliance with the rules of the scheme and by a process of monitoring and reactions to information received from industrial users, the BSIF will police the integrity of members carrying the scheme logo. Member companies reported as having committed any transgression will be the subject of an independent enquiry and, if upheld, will be expelled from the scheme.
The BSIF is keen to ensure that safety equipment purchased to protect people at work does just that and believes that the launch of this scheme will contribute significantly to reductions in workrelated ill health and injury. More articles from BSIF Enterprise: | 
