Major UK safety equipment supplier, Arco, has declared its support for SHP’s campaign to raise awareness of the need for inclusivity in workplace PPE.
As part of its public affairs strategy, helping to shape the UK’s health and safety agenda, the company recently gave its support to local MP Emma Hardy in bringing this issue to Parliament.
In an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons (12th March 2024), the MP for Hull West & Hessle tabled the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Protected Characteristics) Bill, which would put the onus on employers to ensure PPE provided to people with certain protected characteristics is suitable for their needs.
During the debate, Hardy referenced the SHP campaign, raising awareness around this issue, and mentioned Arco’s support: “Arco, based in my constituency of Hull West and Hessle, a leading UK provider of health and safety products and PPE, recognises the need for change and is fully supportive of the campaign to improve inclusivity in PPE.”
She went on to state that “workers deserve a guarantee that they will be protected,” and that “it’s clear from the overwhelming evidence that the current regulations are not effective in ensuring large numbers of workers are receiving the protection they need at work. Well-fitting PPE should not be seen as best practice, but the minimum standard.”
John Magee, Arco’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “At Arco, our core purpose is to help keep people safe at work, and by this we mean all people. Ill-fitting PPE is not only uncomfortable, it can also be unsafe.
“Our product range currently includes female-fit options in all major product groups, including workwear, casualwear, outerwear, hi-vis and flame-retardant clothing, either under the Arco brand or from our proprietary partners.
“But inclusivity doesn’t just mean clothing for women, and we also provide religious, maternity and menopause clothing, with more products coming to market every year.
“As we continue to develop our inclusive PPE offer, we are also working to make these options more visible and accessible to customers, as we have done with our range of ‘Responsible Choice’ products.”
So adequate and effective PPE would be a better terminology instead of jumping on the hard left DIE cult the results of which will only result in more disdain for our profession.