1. What is it for?
Body protection is principally designed to protect the torso, i.e. the chest and abdomen, from:
- physical hazards (e.g. weapons or vehicles);
- biological hazards (e.g. human waste products); and
- chemical hazards (e.g. toxic or corrosive substances).
It is very important to select the right type of protection. The manager’s risk assessment should identify which hazards are likely to be encountered.
2. What types are available?
High-visibility clothing: This is designed to make sure you are seen whenever you have to work near moving vehicles, for example in dock areas or on roadsides. It comes in three basic forms, each of which has fluorescent strips attached so that you will be seen clearly if lighting is poor:
- waistcoats;
- sleeved waistcoats; and
- ¾-length jackets.
Sleeved waistcoats carry extra fluorescent strips and are designed for use near high-speed traffic (e.g. by officers or teams working on public roads). All high-visibility clothing should meet the national standard or its European equivalent.
Disposable coveralls: These are paper gowns designed for people dealing with suspected internal concealments of drugs (‘stuffers and swallowers’), to lessen the risk of infection from micro-organisms found in human waste products (the risk of infection is normally small if the specimen isolation units are used correctly). Disposable face masks and gloves are also available.
Oil-resistant coveralls: These are designed for use when you have to work in oily/dirty areas. They will protect both your body and your normal working clothes.
3. What are its limitations?
High-visibility clothing must be kept clean if it is to remain effective — this is particularly important with the fluorescent strips.
Disposable coveralls are mainly designed for protection against biological hazards. They offer little or no protection against corrosive chemicals.
4. Where must body protection be worn?
High-visibility clothing should be worn in poorly lit areas where you are at risk from moving vehicles (e.g. cranes or fork-lift trucks).
You must wear it in all dock areas in order to comply with health and safety procedures. You must also wear it if you are working on or near fast roads, to make sure drivers can see you.
You must make sure that you wear the right type of high-visibility clothing.
Disposable coveralls should be worn whenever you are dealing with internal concealments of drugs (‘stuffers and swallowers’), where you could be at risk of contamination by human waste products.
5. How do I look after it?
High-visibility clothing should be kept clean by regularly sponging it with warm soapy water. Pay particular attention to the fluorescent strips.
Disposable coveralls should be stored in clean, dry conditions until they are used. Once used, they should be disposed of — but remember that they will probably need to be treated as hazardous waste. You must place soiled coveralls in a yellow ‘clinical waste’ bag to be removed for incineration by an approved waste disposal company.
