Safety is becoming an increasingly important issue to companies working across a huge range of sectors, as the threat of injury to workers shows no sign of disappearing any time soon.
Whether it is kitting out employees with hard-wearing implements that protect them from physical threats or turning to respirators and other such equipment in a bid to tackle hidden killers like asbestos, there is always something for firms to be thinking about from a safety perspective.
However, what companies certainly cannot do is neglect their responsibilities and leave safety in the hands of staff, who may be unqualified and unmotivated to act.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued its advice on the subject after an investigation found more than one in five workers in the UK is being asked to pay for his or her own safety equipment. By law, businesses are required to provide adequate kit and tools to ensure the health and safety of their staff.
From protective clothing to helmets, goggles, ear plugs and face shields, there are many items that firms must supply to their employees as and when required. It is not only physical threats that must be dealt with, as heat, chemicals, electricity and infections are also rife.
Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary, said: "The fact that so many employers are flouting the law is an absolute scandal.
"Far too many workers are being forced to provide their own safety protection, whether footwear, boiler suits, overalls or gloves, and this abuse is widespread across a wide range of industries ranging from construction to catering."
The study also concluded that 11.6 per cent of people are told to use safety equipment but are not given it by their employer, while another 8.9 per cent are ordered to fund any replacement kit if their original options are damaged.
