News and Updates

The purchase of certain PPE items has become increasingly challenging as the global surge in demand and international supply chain constrictions has led to a shortage of supply. Also to combat the risk that the COVID-19 virus presents, many companies are now specifying face masks and coverings to protect their workers and customers for the first time.

If purchasing PPE and face masks during COVID-19, follow the three steps below:

1. Get Advice on Product Selection

Assess the hazardous substance in the environment and the level of risk posed to workers, this will include the risk of exposure to viral infection. Issue the most appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimise that risk. If full respiratory protection is not required, and the objective is to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, then a face mask will be a more suitable alternative. It is important that the higher levels of protective equipment are reserved for use where necessary, such as by the NHS, frontline responders and industries with specific hazards. Arco recommends Type II medical face masks, they are an effective means of preventing the spread of the virus from one person to another and will offer some protection to the wearer.

2. Ensure you are buying product that is tested to and compliant with relevant European Safety Standards.

With an influx of PPE from new suppliers, some products entering the market have been found non-compliant and may not provide the appropriate protection, potentially posing a safety risk for the wearer. There is also evidence of false documentation, containing incorrect CE marking and declarations of conformity, making it difficult for purchasers to establish which products offer correct protection.

When sourcing PPE from a new source, to ensure that you are buying compliant product it is recommended that you ask for the correct supporting documentation. Ask for two documents: a CE Certificate and a Declaration of Conformity. It is also advisable that you check that the documents are genuine and legal, advice on how to do this can be found on the Arco website and through the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF).

3. Check the Supplier's Ethical Credentials

Ensure you only work with ethical suppliers, with the increased numbers of new suppliers and extreme levels of demand it is as important as ever to check where your products are being manufactured and worker welfare is ensured. Ask your suppliers to share information about their supply chain, factories and management practices.

Arco, the UK's leading safety company is donating £41,600 to support local community organisations and charities through its Coronavirus Community Grant scheme. As a business that continually contributes towards organisations in the local community, it saw first-hand the demand for support and wanted to help. Arco's Community Panel invited employees to apply for 40 one off grants of up to £1,000 on behalf of organisations and charities in their local communities that required vital support or funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grants were available to provide support across focus areas including victims of domestic violence, food banks, food delivery and meal services for the vulnerable, care homes, hospices and those providing a vital service to the homeless community. The panel received 44 high quality applications and made the decision to award grants to all 44 organisations.

Arco said:

"We are overwhelmed by the response of so many our colleagues and we were delighted to support every application we received. We have seen first-hand the demand for funding by so many organisations helping those in need. These unprecedented times have impacted many people in our local communities and through these grants we are able to support those who need it most."

The 44 grants provided help and support to a number of great causes including Hull Women's Aid, Dove House and Strathcarron Hospices, The Salvation Army, Kaleb's Wish and Hull Vineyard Trust which is supporting the local area with food parcels, essentials and baby items.

John and Joni Clarke, Senior Pastors of Hull Vineyard Church said:

"I want to take the time to say a huge thank you to Arco for the incredibly generous gift you've awarded the Hull Vineyard Church for our work in the city... Your gift will go to supporting our increased compassion work, and will literally change people's lives in Hull. Thank you!"

Arco continually supports and encourages colleagues to provide their time and skills to local charities and community groups, allowing each colleague an additional two days paid leave for volunteering opportunities each year.

As a key supplier of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the NHS, public health bodies and critical businesses in the UK, Arco the UK's leading safety company, is making a significant effort to support the UK supply chain for critical equipment including face masks and respirators.

As the UK continues to make progress in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, there are some signs that the Government is considering a range of measures on the relaxation of the lockdown guidance, that would enable some businesses to re-open. This may include a recommendation for the use of face masks by healthy people in the workplace. As many companies are now specifying face masks for the first time, Arco has compiled expert advice and guidance for its customers on the correct selection of facemasks and respirators, particularly in regard to Type II and Type IIR facemasks. This is to ensure that the higher levels of protective equipment are issued to those that need them most.

If full respiratory protection is not required and the objective is to prevent the possible transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace, then the most appropriate PPE would be a face mask. A respirator would be more suitable alternative where full respiratory protection is needed to protect a worker from a hazardous substance - including COVID-19.

It is important that respirators are not specified where Type II face masks could be used and the recommendation is that a full workplace risk assessment is carried out to determine the hazardous substances in the environment. This should include the risk of exposure to l infection.

Medical face masks are classified into two types, Type I and Type II with Type II further divided according to their splash resistance pressure, which determines the mask's resistance level to contaminated fluid splashes. Type II face masks are suitable for most workplace situations, where masks are being issued with the objective of preventing the transmission of COVID-19 virus from one person to others. Type IIR splash resistant medical face masks are required in clinical settings to protect the wearer against contaminants contained in splashes of blood or bodily fluids.

Neil Hewitt, Quality Director at Arco says:

"The current demand for all types of PPE, especially face masks, is unique and we are seeing a daily increase in enquiries for all types. We are managing our supply chain to ensure that protective equipment reaches those that need it most and are not diverted from health care and front-line responders. We are issuing some specific guidance on the use of face masks to enable customers to select the right product for their needs and to ensure the that the higher levels of protective equipment are issued only where necessary. We would add a warning about the influx of non-compliant products coming into the market that have not been tested and certified to meet the necessary standards and could potentially put people at risk. We recommend that customers work with companies like Arco, that can provide assurance on product quality and conformity".

Those issuing Type II masks for the first time will need to provide instruction to wearers of the correct way to put on, take off and dispose of the masks once used. Arco has compiled a step-by-step illustrative guide along with a list of FAQs for managers.

As the Government eases lockdown restrictions in England in a bid to restart the economy, some businesses are making their plans to re-open. The Government has issued a set of guidelines to ensure safe working, but many business owners and managers are concerned about how these should be met and the measures they need to put in place to comply and to fully protect their people.

With an expectation that where social distancing is not possible, the use of face coverings may be required in order to decrease the risk of transmission of infection from the wearer to others, Arco, the UK's leading safety company, has secured a supply of 40m Type II masks and 90m Type IIR masks. These are currently being delivered to its 400,000sqft National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Hull. A series of 20 trucks have been arriving in a carefully timed schedule to deliver the first 19m masks and work has begun inside the newly extended building to get orders out of the door, to customers across the country as quickly as possible.

With a deep understanding of workplace safety and expertise in product sourcing and advising on product selection, Arco, the UK's leading safety company has been a key supplier to the NHS, ambulance services, local authorities and other public health bodies in the UK and has made a significant contribution to support the UK supply chain for critical equipment. Now the company has developed a set of expert advice sheets to ensure a safe return to the workplace. The 'toolkit' is aligned with Government advice and covers topics such as Managing Risk, Cleaning the Workplace, Working Safely During Coronavirus and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - what to wear and how to use it.

It's important that the right type of respiratory protection is specified for the job, to ensure that the higher levels of protective equipment are issued only where necessary and critical supplies are not diverted from where they are needed most. Arco's freely available guidance offers expert advice on when to specify a respirator or a mask, selecting the right Type II mask, plus a set of guides and FAQs for end users.

Arco is deeply concerned about the quantity of non-compliant products that are now on the UK market, many of which have fake test certification and do not meet UK standards. These products could potentially put workers at risk, rather than protect them. With its own independently accredited product testing lab on site, Arco is uniquely positioned to advise on fake and counterfeit products that are finding their way into the marketplace. The company is using its deep technical knowledge on product quality and conformity to assist the OPSS and Trading Standards in their effort to keep non-compliant products out of the supply chain.

David Evison, Arco's Managing Director said:

"Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been working with our customers in the NHS, ambulance services, local authorities, care homes and other frontline services to provide a range of PPE and other products to the staff who have been working tirelessly to help others in their fight against the disease. As lockdown eases and businesses get back up and running and we restart the economy, our experts are best placed to help business owners get their workplace ready and keep it safe for their people when they return. We will play our role in making work a safe place for everyone and in ensuring that the products we supply are the right ones for the job and are fully compliant".