Collective Protective Equipment (CPE)

Collective protective equipment (CPE), also known as collective protective measures (CPM), is a category of protective equipment that deals with the collective protection of a large group or area. Whereas PPE refers to pieces of protective equipment that are used by an individual, CPE can be set up within an area to protect many operatives at once. Here we shall take a brief look at the different types of CPE and how they work. 

L/M/H class particle extractors

Particle extractors are a form of Local Exhaust Ventilations (LEV) and are dust extraction units that are designed to minimise the number of particulates that are kicked up into the air. When performing cuts with power tools, airborne particulates are created as a waste product and can quickly fill the room with harmful dust. Particle extractors are portable machines that are designed to be attached to our power tools, sucking away the dust into a contained space as it is being created. This does not eliminate the airborne dust created but vastly reduces that amount that is able to become airborne. Dust extractors also function as vacuum cleaners, capable of sucking up construction dust, and some larger chunks depending on the model. Some varieties are also able to suck up liquids.  

Particle extractors come in three classes, L, M, and H. These refer to light, medium, and heavy respectively. L class extractors are the minimum requirement for use with power tools, though often M class extractors are specified for use by tool manufacturers and within the health and safety risk assessments. L class extractors are suitable for use when cutting softwoods, as well as vacuuming up construction related dust.  

M class extractors are the industry expected standard for use during regular construction work. For cutting hardwoods, manufactured timber materials, as well as other harmful and carcinogenic materials such as concrete, M class extractors are required to be used. M class extractors can extract higher levels of finer particulates than L class extractors.  

H class extractors are the highest class of extractors, boasting higher levels of filtration and suction power in comparison to the other classes. These are required to be used when working in environments containing particularly harmful or carcinogenic particulates, often in higher quantities than in other places. These extractors are rated for use with carcinogens, asbestos, formaldehyde, as well as biological hazards such as bacteria and mould.  

Most extractors filter the waste into fabric bags that can be easily removed and disposed of effectively. The use of extractors whilst cutting allow for the safety of a larger group of operatives working in one area. This is due to the lessened necessity for the usage of dust masks within the cutting area. They can also help to minimise airborne particulates in areas with poor ventilation. They boast an additional practicality in that we can cut materials in areas that we wouldn't usually be able to. For example, cutting the bottoms off doors in a furnished home would leave a homeowner rightfully upset due to the amount of dust spread about. With the use of appropriate extraction, we can perform our duties inside without creating a mess. This can lead to cost savings in most applications too in terms of reducing labour costs. 

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems are pieces of equipment designed for the mass purification, filtration, and extraction of the air in localised areas. These machines can range from smaller room filters all the way up to large filtration extractors for use on factory floors. The primary purpose of LEV systems in construction applications is to purify the air and ensure that any unwanted, harmful particulates are removed in a timely fashion. The machines pull air through them and use a series of filters to extract harmful particulates from the air. The filtered air can then be expelled back into the room or ventilated away from the area through a tube or pipe, with fresh air being drawn into the room. These systems are a fantastic passive machine that can be set up when carrying out construction tasks to ensure safe working practices.  

Health and safety signage

There are a myriad of standardised health and safety signs that exist for denoting and highlighting several different potential hazards, requirements, and points of interest. The use of signs is required where there is a significant risk to the health and safety of those passing through or working in the area. They serve as a collective form of awareness, prevention, and protection. 

All new operatives and on-site visitors are required to be made aware of the meaning of any relevant health and safety signage, as well as where fire exits, and fire/first aid assembly points can be found. The use of signage should be limited to only display the most appropriate and pertinent information, to avoid confusion with excess signage. There are no actual regulations requiring the use of signage on private sites, where the assumption is that all operatives within the area know what is going on. However, it should be noted that signage should still be placed around, as we are still responsible for the health and safety of the public, or visitors to our site.  

Safety nets

Safety nets within the construction industry serve as a form of protection against harm from falling from height. By ensuring that safety netting is fixed well in place below working areas, the full scope of injuries sustained from a fall can be reduced. Safety netting that is put into place can also prevent large items falling onto people that are passing below. Therefore, the combination of these points makes it an industry standard piece of collective protective equipment.  

Injuries may still occur from landing on safety netting, though often these are far more favourable than the alternative. It’s important to note that whilst these nets are very effective in preventing serious injuries from falls, alternative forms of protection should also be installed and used in an attempt to prevent falls in the first place.  

Soft Landing Systems/Fall arrest bags

Soft landing systems, more specifically in this case fall arrest bags, are inflatable or soft stuffed bags that are designed to minimise injury in the event of a fall from height. The outer material of these bags is a hard-wearing synthetic composite fabric, and is often waterproof and resistant to UV, making it suitable for prolonged outdoor use. The bags are rated to be fire resistant, with the stuffed variety of bags containing an energy absorbent, fire resistant foam padding. The inflatable variety of these bags are very small when packed away and can be easily transported through doorways and inflated inside smaller rooms or areas. At less extreme heights where tasks are required to be performed, such as first or second storey roofs, fall arrest bags can provide an additional level of fall protection where the use of a safety harness is not practical. It's important to note that in a similar way to safety nets, whilst this form of protection can help to minimise injury after falling from height, it doesn't exactly prevent the fall, which is a consideration. 

Kickboards/Toe boards

Kickboards, also known as toe boards, are physical barriers installed at the low level around scaffolds and other elevated working platforms. The barriers, typically scaffold boards on edge, are installed to prevent items such as tools or materials from being kicked or knocked off the scaffold. Falling items pose a serious risk to those passing underneath, and as such we should ensure that we are following appropriate procedures to ensure that the risk of injury from such occurrences are minimised. 

Noise reduction tents

Noise reduction tents are a form of collective protective equipment designed to reduce the perceived levels of noise in a localised area during the use of power tools. Power tools such as chop saws and jack hammers create high levels of noise, capable of damaging the hearing of those in the immediate vicinity. Whilst the operator in control of these tools should always wear their own hearing protection, it’s important to consider the health of others around them. To minimise the noise being emitted into the surrounding area, sound dampening or noise reduction tents can be set up around the tools. These tents encase the tool and reflect the sound of the tools being used around inside the tent, minimising the noise escaping. These tents can also be set up with dust extraction and ventilation to reduce the number of particulates being expelled into the surrounding area. These tents are often used in public scenarios, to prevent hearing and inhalation damage to pedestrians that are not equipped with PPE. 

Portable gazebos

Portable gazebos are fantastic pieces of equipment that are easily erected and dismantled and serve to protect operatives in their working environments from the rain or the sun. By erecting a tent around our workstations, we can keep the sun off our heads, or stop ourselves and our tools from getting wet, depending on the specific weather conditions. These tents are great in practicality and application, though care should be taken to ensure the safety of the public when erecting them in certain locations, as well as ensuring that they are correctly anchored in place so that they are not whisked away by strong winds.