BSIF issues warning over fake safety equipment

Health & Safety update 01/11/2011

Firms should be careful to ensure they are not taken in by fake safety equipment, The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has warned.

Fake safety helmets, safety glasses and high visibility vests which do not confirm to safety standards are just some of the items available to purchase on the open market. The BSIF has warned that these items can often be hard to tell apart from genuine safety equipment and often are not discovered until an accident happens.

The BSIF is working with Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Authority to try and stamp out this fake equipment in order to make the workplace safer for all staff members.

Chief Executive Officer at the BSIF, David Lummis, told Workplace Law, “Being extra vigilant when looking after your workforce is essential when health and lives are at risk. By just being aware of the type of counterfeit items available on the marketplace and remembering that offers that seem ‘too good to be true’ usually are, is a step in the right direction.

“Purchasing the right PPE is a big responsibility and safety equipment that doesn’t perform properly isn’t just inconvenient, it may actually cost lives,” he added.

The Registered Safety Supplier Scheme - which was launched by the BSIF in 2009 – comprises a list of firms which sell genuine, legal safety products.

If you would like further information, and already subscribe to NatWest Mentor, please call the Advice Service. If you would like more information on how Mentor could help your business in situations like this and many others, contact us today for information.

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