PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS

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Chapter : Personal Protective Equipment 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT'S

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is equipment or clothing designed to be worn by someone to protect them from the risk of injury or illness and safety hazards that cannot practically be removed from your work area

Be sure to select the appropriate PPE to reduce work injuries

The objective of Personal Protective Equipment is to protect employees from injury through its use—such as safety glasses to protect their eyes, hardhats to protect their heads or boots to protect their feet.

To ensure appropriate protection for employees, follow PPE standards

• Conduct an assessment of the workplace to determine whether hazards are present that make the use of PPE necessary.
• Select appropriate PPE that will protect affected employees from the hazards identified in the assessment.
• Train employees on what PPE is required and how to use, adjust and maintain it.

👉PPE'S Hazard Maping At Work

Common Hazards at Work

1. Head injuries: Falling objects, low-hanging structures, or electrical hazards.

2. Eye injuries: Debris, chemicals, or electrical arcs.

3. Hearing loss: Loud noises from equipment or machinery.

4. Respiratory hazards: Dust, chemicals, or confined spaces.

5. Fall hazards: Working at heights, uneven surfaces, or slippery conditions.

6. Cuts and lacerations: Sharp objects, tools, or materials.

7. Electrical hazards: Exposed wiring, electrical equipment, or overhead power lines.

PPE Requirements

1. Hard hats: Protection from falling objects or electrical hazards.

2. Safety glasses: Protection from debris, chemicals, or electrical arcs.

3. Earplugs or earmuffs: Protection from loud noises.

4. Respirators: Protection from dust, chemicals, or confined spaces.

5. Fall protection gear: Harnesses, lanyards, or anchors for working at heights.

6. Gloves: Protection from cuts, abrasions, or electrical hazards.

7. Steel-toed boots: Protection from heavy objects or equipment.

Hazard Mapping Process

1. Identify hazards: Determine potential hazards associated with specific tasks or activities.

2. Assess risk: Evaluate the likelihood and potential impact of each hazard.

3. Select PPE: Choose PPE that provides adequate protection against identified hazards.

4. Train workers: Ensure workers understand the hazards and use PPE correctly.

Benefits

1. Reduced injuries: PPE hazard mapping helps prevent injuries and illnesses.

2. Improved safety: Identifies potential hazards and ensures workers are protected.

3. Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements for PPE use.

👉Selecting the appropriate PPE can be tricky. Begin with the following criteria:

• PPE must protect against the specific hazard encountered in the workplace.
• PPE must be reasonably comfortable.
• PPE must not restrict the senses, movement or ability to work safely.
• PPE must be durable and easy to clean and disinfect.
• PPE must not interfere with the function of other required PPE.

Personal protective equipment protects many parts of your body including eyes, face, head, hands, feet, and ears.

Head Protection

Hard hats protect you from impact and penetration caused by objects hitting your head. They also give you limited protection from electrical shock or burns. Hard hat tips:

• The shell of the hat is designed to absorb some of the impact.
• The suspension, which consists of the headband and strapping, also absorbs impact. It is important that the suspension is adjusted to fit you well and to keep the shell a minimum distance of 1-1/4" above your head.

Eye Protection

You must always wear proper eye protection if you work with: molten metals, liquid chemicals, hazardous gases, or flying particles.

• Coverage from the front and the sides is required when there is a hazard from flying objects.
• Safety glasses or goggles should be worn under face shields for added protection.
• Tinted or shaded lenses protect you from glare when working in a bright environment.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection consists of earplugs and earmuffs. Wear hearing protection when:

• The sounds in your work area are irritating.
• You need to raise your voice to be heard by someone closer than two feet away.
• Sound levels reach 85 decibels or higher for an 8-hour time period.
• There are short bursts of sound that can cause hearing damage.

Hand Protection

You must wear gloves for protection against severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes. Glove tips:

• When working with chemicals, gloves should be taped at the top, or folded with a cuff to keep liquids from running inside your glove or onto your arm.
• Use vinyl, rubber, or neoprene gloves when working with most chemicals. If you are working with petroleum-based products, synthetic gloves are needed.
• Use leather or cotton-knit gloves when handling abrasive materials.
• Do not wear metal-reinforced gloves when working with electrical equipment.
• Do not wear gloves while working on moving machinery. Moving parts can pull your glove, hand, and arm into the machine.

Foot Protection

Foot protection is important to prevent injuries in case a heavy or sharp object falls on your foot or you step on an object that could pierce your shoe. Footwear tips:

• If you work around exposed electrical wires or connections, you need to wear metal-free, nonconductive shoes or boots.
• Rubber or synthetic footwear is necessary when working around chemicals. Avoid wearing leather shoes or boots when working with caustic chemicals because they can eat through the leather.