Respiratory Protective Equipment, Testing & Fire Safety

In March 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) updated its guidance on the health surveillance required for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

Working in and around aircraft involves navigating numerous high-risk environments, but few are quite as hazardous as aeroplane fuel tanks. The Confined Spaces Regulations (1997) require employers to carry out thorough risk assessments, establish safe systems of work, and set clear emergency procedures in place.

Let’s face it: nobody likes being told what not to do, but when it comes to Face Fit Testing, skipping that pre-test snack is more important than you might think. As a wearer of a tight-fitting respirator, you probably already know how critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is.

The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower tragedy subjected fire safety to intense scrutiny across the UK. A key recommendation was that fire risk assessments should be more thorough and only carried out by qualified professionals.

When you imagine confined spaces, it’s easy to picture cramped tanks or dark tunnels. However, confined spaces come in many forms - and they’re often more dangerous than they first appear. That’s why confined space entry training scenarios must go beyond the basics.

When you're about to attend your first face fit testing appointment, it’s normal to feel uneasy about what awaits you. Nonetheless, as someone required to use a tight-fitting respirator mask, this is an essential step, as your Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is only effective if it forms an adequate seal with your face.

Fire safety is one of the core responsibilities of health and safety managers, facilities managers, employees, or anyone managing a residential property on behalf of someone else or a local authority.

Emergency responders, tasked with safeguarding lives and property, are often the first people to enter hazardous environments and fire sites.

When imagining the role of the country’s firefighters, it’s natural to assume that confined space rescue is a standard part of the job.

When workers put on PPE (personal protective equipment) at work, most do so believing that it is their first and most reliable line of defence against workplace hazards.

Confined Space Rescues are among the most challenging and dangerous situations that emergency responders may face in the course of their work. Limited access, poor ventilation, and high-risk conditions mean that specialist skills are usually required to provide life-saving treatments for casualties and to safely extricate them to a place of safety.

The management of asbestos in the workplace offers a cautionary tale for today’s health and safety professionals, particularly regarding the growing threat posed by crystalline silica dust.