Companies are being urged to take more care when sourcing PPE after a company boss was sent to prison and fined for selling substandard face masks.
The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has said the case of Paul Scott-South, director of Hull Cleaning Ltd, pleading guilty to offences relating to the sale of KN95 masks highlights the need for caution.
Mr Scott-South was sent to prison for nine months in February, fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs – and the judge described the company’s facemasks as ‘useless’.
The convictions were secured in July 2022 under the PPE and Consumer Protection legislation relating to sales during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BSIF supported Trading Standards in the prosecution, providing product testing from an “Approved” laboratory and advice and expert witness statements.
Alan Murray, CEO of BSIF, said: “This case highlights how easily substandard and defective PPE can find its way onto the market and what a serious concern that is.
“We are pleased to see that in this instance the company’s actions have resulted in prosecution but, as our latest non-member tests results show, there is still a large volume of non-compliant products for sale in the UK market being bought and used by unsuspecting customers.
“Once again, we urge all buyers and specifiers to review their current processes and consider what assurances they have that the PPE and safety equipment they are being supplied with is fit for purpose.
“Specifying a Registered Safety Supplier is the easiest way to ensure you only deal with compliant, competent and trustworthy suppliers.”
…there is still a large volume of non-compliant products for sale in the UK market being bought and used by unsuspecting customers…
Sounds like a lot more also needs to be done before these products reach unsuspecting customers. If even the UK Govt got caught out with PPE procurement what hope us there for the rest of us?