Hemel Hempstead, England — The British Safety Industry Federation is warning safety professionals about personal protective equipment purchased on TikTok.
BSIF is calling attention to three recalls recently issued by the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards for PPE sold on the short-form video platform, including one for Gaomi Anbaili safety shoes (model FZ-99). The product was listed on the TikTok Shop under multiple descriptors, including “Men’s Anti-smash and Anti-puncture Shoes, Breathable Non-slip Work Shoes, Comfortable Safety Shoes for Men, Fashionable Shoes for Daily Wear, Boy.”
The other recalls are for Xiangtai safety belts and Essential PPE’s Reusable Half Face Mask Filter Anti-Dust Gas Respirator Mask 7-in-1.
“We suspect that many of these products are being bought personally by workers – including workers who are not direct employees but for whom employers still have a legal duty to provide PPE,” BSIF CEO Alan Murray said in a press release. “These individuals are often given a budget to buy their own PPE but may not fully understand the regulations or certification requirements surrounding safety products.
“The reality is that substandard PPE advertised as protective simply does not protect workers, and it can put lives at risk.”
