If protective clothing is damaged, employees should report it to supervision so that it can be repaired or replaced. Spare overalls should be available to cover times when other overalls are being washed or repaired. Even when wearing protective clothing, exposed parts of the body may become contaminated. Employees should wash before eating, drinking or smoking and on finishing work. Reputable suppliers should be fully familiar with the correct materials to use and the correct design of protective clothing.
Specific tests exist to ensure that the material used is suitable for the purpose.
For most production work in potteries, control measures such as enclosure or exhaust ventilation should be adequate to control the risks and should be provided. However, for some maintenance and major cleaning jobs, eg emptying dust collectors, respiratory protective equipment may be required. This is a specialised subject and employers should give careful consideration to choosing suitable respirators. In noisy areas, hearing protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs may be necessary, although employers should be taking steps to reduce excessive noise levels. Under the Noise at Work Regulations 1989, an employer should assess noise levels and, if necessary, provide hearing protection taking into account adequacy of protection and comfort.