How A No-Deal Brexit Could Impact The Availability Of PPE

Approximately 95% of PPE is manufactured outside the UK, meaning everything else that enters the UK, comes via UK ports or by rail, air and truck from Europe and the rest of the world.

Whilst Granite Workwear holds large stocks across the whole range of PPE, workwear and corporate wear, analysing key potential impacts of a no-deal Brexit for your business is essential. 

The following gives an insight into just some of the challenges that may face us ahead and how this may affect your supply of PPE.

Port Delays

The recent release of the Yellowhammer document says between 50-85% of UK Lorries travelling to the EU may not be ready for French customs. Lack of readiness and limited space in French ports could cut HGV traffic by 40-60% and lead to disruption lasting at least three months.

The Port of Dover handles approximately 10,500 lorries a day. To prevent nearby roads from clogging up, the government has a traffic management plan codenamed Operation Brock.

If the plan is activated, up to 2,000 lorries will be held in a queue leading to the port. Other traffic will be kept flowing around the queued-up lorries in a contraflow system.

If further capacity was still required, a "last resort" would be to turn the 10-mile M26 motorway into a temporary lorry park. This is on the UK side – so we can only assume at this stage that the same challenges face trucks at the French, Belgian and Dutch ports. 

In addition to this, the trucks will have to be customs cleared at the incoming UK ports and airports resulting in further delays.

What To Do

October and November are notoriously busy times every year due to the inclement weather, a ‘No-Deal Brexit’ and a change in the port systems delaying the freight will prohibit stocks arriving on time.

As a large stockist, we feel that we are covered for a single market result for Brexit but a no-deal is likely to severely stress the supply chain. 

We would urge all our valued customers and prospective customers to consider your requirements for PPE for the period of October through until February as early as you can.

The more a no-deal Brexit is likely then panic buying by end-users as a result of national media reporting about delays is likely to spark end-users into purchasing additional stock.