PPE safety is the practice of ensuring a safe, working environment for employees and visitors through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety is paramount to all businesses across industries. Using PPEs, paired with inspections such as workplace and restaurant inspections, assessments like health and safety risk assessments, and analysis such as gap analysis&#;is essential to protect employees from risks and hazards.
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According to the hierarchy of controls by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), PPE (sometimes also referred to as PPE equipment)&#;is recommended to be the last level of defense to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but some businesses combined it with other control measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their workers. Here are some benefits of using PPEs:
However, even the strictest controls will not necessarily eliminate all the risks associated with most job tasks and this is where the need for PPE must be evaluated. A hazard assessment can help identify which specialized PPE will be required. There are numerous types of workplace safety equipment available depending on the hazard exposure and work conditions. The following are basic PPE that can help protect employees:
PPE includes safety goggles and face shields and should be used for tasks that can cause eye damage or loss of vision, sprays of toxic liquids, splashes, and burns.
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PPE includes full-face respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, N95 respirators, and surgical masks are used for a task that can cause inhalation of harmful materials to enter the body. This includes harmful gas, chemicals, large-particle droplets, sprays, splashes, or splatter that may contain viruses and bacteria such as COVID-19, viral infections, and more.
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PPE includes the following categories to protect employees from physical hazards:
PPE includes hard hats and headgears and should be required for tasks that can cause any force or object falling to the head.
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PPE includes safety vests and suits that can be used for tasks that can cause body injuries from extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bites and radiation.
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PPE includes safety gloves and should be used for tasks that can cause hand and skin burns, absorption of harmful substances, cuts, fractures or amputations.
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PPE includes knee pads and safety boots and should be used for tasks that can cause serious foot and leg injuries from falling or rolling objects, hot substances, electrical hazards, and slippery surfaces.
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PPE includes safety harnesses and lanyards and should be strictly used for tasks that can cause falling from heights and serious injury or death.
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PPE includes ear muffs and plugs and should be used for tasks that can cause hearing problems and loss of hearing.
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Learn more about hearing protection.
Other examples of PPE include:
welding PPE
such as helmets and and flame-resistant clothing
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Explore nowWorkplace safety should begin with a hazard assessment. Once the hazards and risks have been identified, a plan can be put forward to prioritize and reduce the risk of injury. Useful systems and tools to perform hazard assessments include performing a risk assessment and a Job Safety Analysis (JSA).
The hierarchy of controls is a proven safety approach that helps protect employees. If elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls are not enough to eliminate the risk, it is vital to choose the appropriate PPE carefully. Ensure employees are properly trained to use the safety equipment and be able to detect and report any damages before commencing work.
A toolbox talk about PPE is recommended to discuss the different kinds of PPE that can be used to minimize the likelihood and mitigate the effects of hazards. A toolbox talk template can help in assessing the sufficiency and availability of safety equipment for all employees.
Safety Officers can promote safety in the workplace by following PPE safety requirements:
These examples of PPE safety are based on a free PPE checklist provided by SafetyCulture for anyone to download and use for free.
Nature of work: Laboratory (Chemical Handling) Potential hazards at work:To give you a better idea, we&#;ve created a PPE checklist sample pdf report below:
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Get Started for FreeGiving personal protective equipment (PPE) for your workers alone is not enough to protect them from hazards, injuries, and accidents. This is especially true for industries such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. To make sure that their PPEs fully serve their functions, it&#;s crucial that your workers understand their proper use, maintenance, and disposal to protect themselves and the people around them. Thankfully, training now is made easy and convenient for you with online PPE courses that your workers can take any time and anywhere.
Here, you can use highly recommended premade courses that will cover the different types of PPE and demonstrate when and how to use them properly. Reinforcing PPE training will not only keep your workers safe from hazards but also boost productivity without any threat of unwanted incidents. Try Training, a mobile feature available on the SafetyCulture platform.
All Training courses can be customized to fit the needs of your organization and be shared with your team in minutes. Workers can access the lessons in these courses even offline.
Try out Training now!
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Tracking the number of usable PPE is easier for safety officers as well and they are better equipped to provide what their employees need to get the job done.
SafetyCulture provides a digital space for safety officers and employees to work towards PPE safety. By utilizing this app, safety officers are able to protect employees from the hazards of the job by ensuring that their PPEs are always in good condition. Make PPE inspections easy by being able to:
Beyond PPE inspections, SafetyCulture can also be used to develop an organization&#;s health and safety program by enabling safety officers to do the following:
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What should you do to determine the best PPE for the job when working in hazardous environments?
Choosing PPE based on the conditions in the work environment and hazards present in the workplace along with compliance requirements are among the first steps in selecting the right PPE. Some may only need minimal protective measures but some may demand more sophisticated PPE.
Appropriate PPE selection will not only ensure employees will get the required level of protection they need but also saves you on unnecessary costs due to improper PPE selection. So when selecting PPE, consider the following 6 factors to to guide you.
Safety Data Sheets include helpful information including the following in helping decide which PPE is suitable based on the type of hazards present in the workplace:
In addition, two sections of the SDS contain appropriate response recommendations including personal protective measures in case of spills or leaks and PPE recommendations for chemical handling:
Section 6 includes responses for small and large spills that significantly impact hazards as well as cleanup and containment practices to prevent/minimize exposure. Aside from these, it may also include recommendations for protective equipment to prevent clothing, eyes, and skin contamination.
Section 8 includes exposure limits, personal protective measures, and engineering controls to minimize employee exposure. It contains recommendations for the appropriate types of face, eye, skin, and/or respiratory protection suitable for the type of hazards and potential exposures. It also includes special PPE requirements, respirators, and protective clothing such as the glove material.
NOTE: PPE recommendations from the SDS may not necessarily apply to your workplace. You still need to consider other conditions in the work area including specific tasks being performed that may affect worker exposure risks. It may depend on how you are using the product, how much is being used, and how often it is used.
In-depth hazard or risk assessment is a more accurate way of selecting workplace-specific PPE. As we&#;ve mentioned, PPE should match the type of hazards in the workplace and provide the right level of protection to workers against these hazards. Collaboration between employers, employees, and other involved people is highly recommended when performing hazard/risk assessments to ensure that all hazards are identified.
One of the &#;root causes&#; of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. A critical element of any effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards. &#; Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs, OSHA
Starting with the effective identification and assessment of hazards in your workplace is the key to ensuring that you choose the right personal protective equipment for the job. In fact, OSHA requires employers to perform a hazard assessment as well as identify and provide appropriate and adequate PPE for their employees.
OSHA has set different requirements for the general, construction, maritime, and agriculture industries. Make sure that you choose PPE that complies with applicable standards in your industry. Take note that there are specific materials in PPE that can be fatal when used in certain situations. An example is PPE made of HPPE that can melt into your skin at high temperatures which makes it not suitable for tasks dealing with fire.
Employers shall take the fit and comfort of PPE into consideration when selecting appropriate items for their workplace. PPE that fits well and is comfortable to wear will encourage employee use. &#; Personal Protective Equipment, OSHA
According to a study in regarding PPE use among construction workers, around 60% only use PPE during work and main non-use reasons include discomfort and poor fit. Most PPE comes in various sizes, so make sure that you choose one that fits each employee correctly to encourage them to use it. Besides, poor fit may not be able to provide the needed level of protection to workers.
In addition, ensure compatibility when different PPE will be worn together. They should not interfere with each other.
Too bulky PPE is not comfortable to use in hot environments and can cause fatigue to workers while PPE that is too light in cold climates can lead to poor coordination. These can cause more serious accidents and injuries.
We mentioned earlier that OSHA has different standards for PPE in various industries. However, OSHA requires most PPE to meet the standards set by the American National Standards Institute. Consider other laws and requirements for PPE and your industry in your local area too.
Many large PPE suppliers and manufacturers have trained staff to help you determine the most suitable PPE for your workplace. But most importantly, workers who will wear the PPE should be involved in the selection process. They know the specific challenges in the workplace and can provide invaluable recommendations regarding what PPE is best suited for their work. Aside from that, involving them in the selection process will make sure that they will wear the PPE that they help choose themselves.
Take note that PPE will not be effective without the enforcement of health and safety procedures. Aside from proper usage, PPE should be maintained in good condition and replaced when damaged.
According to OSHA:
&#;Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as &#;PPE&#;, is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.&#;
PPE may include:
Employers are required to provide PPE at no cost to their employees when engineering, work practice, and administrative controls are not feasible or don&#;t provide sufficient protection.
Employers must provide training to employees who are required to use PPE as specified in the OSHA Personal Protective Equipment standard. The training must include:
PPE will be useless when employees do not know how to use and care for them properly. PPE training for employees and employers alike is important to ensure compliance and the effectiveness of the PPE program.
According to OSHA&#;s definition, Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment that workers wear to minimize hazard exposure. Hazard and risk assessment is the first step to determining the best PPE that can provide the right level of protection against the hazards present in the workplace.
What factors should you consider when choosing PPE?Among the main factors that you should consider when selecting the appropriate PPE for the job include:
&#; Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
&#; Hazard or risk assessments
&#; Industry
&#; Fit & comfort
&#; Applicable laws and regulations
&#; Insights from safety professionals, PPE suppliers and manufacturers, and workers
Wearing PPE helps reduce potential accidents, injuries, and fatalities in the workplace. When not worn correctly and without adequate training on its usage, workers may still be exposed to various hazards regardless of how thoroughly chosen the PPE was.
PPE that is specifically chosen to protect workers against workplace hazards can significantly decrease accidents and fatalities that can lead to potential liabilities and business disruptions. More importantly, involving workers in the selection process and choosing comfortable PPE will ensure that employees will wear them properly and receive the level of protection they need.
RPF Environmental can help you with OSHA-compliant PPE hazard assessments to ensure that you choose the right PPE for your workplace. We also offer EH&S training programs to maximize safety and protect your employees and business. Contact us now!
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