Clean Air? Take Care!

Are you or your employees working in areas where you could be exposed to poor air conditions? Continued exposure to poor air can cause permanent lung damage and affect your quality of life. Arco, is working with businesses to ensure their workers are fitted with adequate respiratory protection by supporting the Clean Air? Take Care! initiative developed by The British Safety Industry Federation's (BSIF) in conjunction with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). This respiratory campaign aims to help reduce occupational respiratory disease, caused by ineffective use of respiratory protection in the workplace, by raising awareness of the issues that surround it and making it easier for you to find the right protective equipment to keep you and your employees safe.

What is the campaign all about?

Recent research revealed that around 5.5 million workers are exposed to respiratory hazards in the workplace. Of these, approximately 50% wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and of this group, only 50% wear equipment that is correctly selected and fitted. This means that only 25% of those at risk are adequately protected - the remaining 75% could experience a resulting degree of ill health during their lifetime. Employees have a right to be aware of the potential dangers that they face in their workplace and to be given the opportunity to protect themselves adequately; employers have a legal obligation to ensure that their workforce is protected as far as is practical. The Clean Air? Take Care! campaign aims to raise awareness of this important issue and how to make sure you are protected.

What are the dangers of not using the right protection?

Using ineffective protection can lead to serious respiratory disease and other health problems caused by breathing in hazardous substances, such as: asthma; allergies, sensitisation and siliocis; COPD (including bronchitis and emphysema) and some types of cancer. Of course, RPE should only be considered as a last step control measure after putting in place other control measures such as extraction ventilation.

What will the campaign focus on?

The "Clean Air?Take Care!" campaign will increase awareness, highlight the problems and promote sensible solutions to respiratory protection in the workplace. Participating companies, like Arco, will be able to provide customers with the most up to date information on selection, deployment, use, maintenance and storage of RPE.

What do I need to do to make sure my workforce is properly protected?

When making important decisions about the purchase of safety equipment and personal protective equipment for you and your employees, take expert advice and always make sure that you buy from a reputable supplier. You need to know that the equipment you are investing in is manufactured to a high standard, is fit for purpose and carries authentic CE marking as set out in UK law. When it comes to selecting RPE equipment, make sure that your supplier is part of the Clean Air? Take Care! initiative. As the UK's leading safety company, Arco is an expert in safety and you will find experienced consultants on hand at its 39 branch locations around the country. Arco can offer a solution to all respiratory equipment needs with a choice of disposable, reusable, powered and air-fed products. Arco's specialists are also able to offer guidance on how to comply with legislation.

Tools available

The BSIF have prepared a number of tools designed to help selection of RPE and increase awareness of respiratory hazards. We can supply you with posters and the new RPE product selection guide, just download them from the links below;

Product Selection Guide

Workplace Poster