24th January 2011, 06:08 PM
There's little or no legal basis to any of these rules, the HSE certainly hasn't heard of them, it's merely that construction companies like to cover their arses in the event of litigation - what's neede is more people sueing them for all those accidents caused by PPE, of which I personally have seen far more than accidents avoided by PPE. Am not aware, for instance, of any legal requirement to wear hard-hats around plant, indeed most small construction firms I've dealt with pretty much never wear the accursed things....