The British Standards Institution (BSI) has joined forces with PPE manufacturer JSP Ltd to help educate practitioners about how to identify fake safety equipment.
Since 2011, JSP has invited a wide range of safety practitioners to attend seminars on how to recognise counterfeit PPE and the importance of buying equipment from a reputable supplier.
The sessions, which are held at its facility in Witney, Oxfordshire, explain the importance of checking head protection for Kitemark certification. The Kitemark scheme involves an initial assessment of conformity to the relevant standards. In addition, each Kitemark licensee is subject to a programme of ongoing surveillance, which includes routine testing of the product and assessment of production quality controls.
JSP reintroduced the Kitemark to its safety helmets two years ago as proof of its compliance to the BSI’s recommended standards. This has allowed JSP to create a risk guide for its safety helmets, which helps customers identify what level of head protection is suitable for their workplace.
The manufacturer offers a range of products rated from two stars up to five stars. Helmets in the two-star range are suitable for users who need protection from self-inflicted bumps, whereas the five star range should be used by workers on sites where there are risks of falling objects, or a high-risk of side impact.
JSP technical director Matthew Judson told SHP: “These seminars are aimed at helping companies select the right helmet for the right application.
“We hope our partnership with the BSI will help tackle the counterfeit safety helmets that are entering the UK market. By asking workers to check for a Kitemark on their PPE, they can contact the BSI to ensure that these products genuinely meet the required standards.” €
