An urgent call for competency in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procurement is being highlighted by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF).
- The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant flaws in PPE procurement with nearly £10 billion spent on unusable equipment.
- The lack of oversight and adherence to procurement rules has allowed substandard products into the market, endangering users.
- BSIF emphasizes the importance of selecting certified PPE to prevent future crises and improve safety standards.
- Initiatives like the BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme aim to enhance trust and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has issued an urgent call for improved competency in the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Despite the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic being behind us, the UK’s PPE procurement issues remain substantial. The Department of Health and Social Care revealed that nearly £10 billion was wasted on defective or unusable PPE during the pandemic. This alarming misuse of resources coincides with ongoing investigations into procurement fraud, with the National Audit Office striving to reclaim millions lost.
The persistent neglect of procurement rules and insufficient market oversight have resulted in the circulation of substandard and non-compliant PPE products. This negligence endangers users, as unsafe equipment is often distributed. Notably, during the pandemic, a contract was granted to a company specializing in currency trading and offshore property, leading to the procurement of 50 million face masks, which proved unusable. This is not an isolated incident; over a million gowns from a Turkish manufacturer were delivered late and found unusable.
Inadequate competency in PPE procurement poses serious health and safety risks. Under the PPE at work regulations, buyers must select appropriate, certified, and compliant products that meet specific requirements. Due diligence is essential; buyers should assess product suitability and ensure compatibility with other necessary PPE. Awareness of these responsibilities is lacking, and many procurement officers lack the resources to fulfill them. Alarmingly, 79% of PPE from non-registered providers failed safety tests, compounding the issue of non-compliance.
The BSIF has taken active steps to tackle these challenges, regularly testing PPE and safety equipment to identify issues. Recent investigations by BSIF from December 2022 to December 2023 reveal that only 21% of 123 PPE items from non-member companies met basic regulatory and safety standards. These findings underscore the life-threatening risks posed by inferior PPE. The BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme serves to assure buyers of the quality and compliance of products purchased from registered safety suppliers, boasting a 91% compliance rate.
Advocating for using registered safety suppliers is central to eradicating substandard PPE and related risks. While not mandatory, increasing reliance on these accredited suppliers would help avert future crises. The BSIF’s commitment to ensuring only high-quality, compliant products underscores their proactive stance on safety. Initiatives like the “Sourcing Safety” course aim to further bolster competency in PPE procurement, educating duty-holders to make informed purchasing decisions.
Heightening competency in PPE procurement is vital for safeguarding health and enhancing trust in safety measures.
