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PPE & Safety Symbols

Employers have duties concerning the provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) under Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended).

Throughout the product catalogue pages, you’ll find safety symbols designed to act as a guide to the safe operation of our hire equipment and the recommended PPE that should be provided.  For an explanation of those safety symbols please see the table below.

These suggestions are considered to be the minimum precautions and it is of course the user's responsibility to carry out the relevant risk assessment and ensure that all appropriate safety equipment is provided in each case.

 

Eye Protection This symbol signifies that this equipment generates flying debris that could cause injury to the eyes.
Breathing Masks This symbol signifies that this type of equipment generates dust, waterbased sprays, welding fumes, ozone and nuisance level odours. 
Ear Defenders This symbol suggests the wearing of suitable ear protection and in particular durable ear defenders to guard against more oppressive noise levels.
Safety Footwear As a general rule safety footwear should always be worn on site. This symbol suggests that this equipment presents a greater than average risk of injury to feet. 
Protective Gloves As a general rule safety protective gloves should always be worn on site. This symbol suggests that this equipment presents a greater than average risk of hand injuries. 
Safety Helmets As a general rule safety helmets should always be worn on site. This symbol suggests that this equipment presents a greater than average risk of head injuries.
Heavy Objects This symbol indicates that this equipment weighs over 25kg.
HAVS Low Hand Arm Vibration (Low Risk) This signifies that the equipment has a HAV rating of 5 m/s2 or less. Where additional HAV symbols are shown this signifies that the equipment has alternative settings and this symbol represents the value at the lowest setting. As a broad guide, at this level, equipment with this or a similar rating can be used for an 8 hour day without exceeding the statutory limits. Any usage of equipment with a medium or high rating would however reduce this limit. 
HAVS Moderate Hand Arm Vibration (Med Risk) This signifies that the equipment has a HAV rating of between 5 m/s2 and 10m/s2. Where additional HAV symbols are shown this signifies that the equipment has alternative settings and this symbol represents the value of either the alternative or the lowest setting. As a broad guide, at this level, equipment with this or a similar rating should not be used for more than 2 hours per working day, and less where equipment within the other risk bands have also been used.
HAVS High Hand Arm Vibration (High Risk) This signifies that the equipment has a HAV rating of over 10m/s2.  Where additional HAV symbols are shown this signifies that the equipment has alternative settings and this symbol represents the value of the alternative or highest setting. As a broad guide, when using this type of equipment the operator is extremely likely to reach or exceed the statutory limits.

Want to know more?

Call us today on 020 8533 5222

At TOGA Hire Centres, we take Health and Safety matters very seriously and hope that these fact sheets are of help. However, we must stress that these guidelines are not intended to be fully comprehensive instructions and the customer should, of course, be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their staff at all times.

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