Powerful Protection with PPE !

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Safety Article

Topic : Personal Protective Equipments 

A most serious misstep is tackling a job without wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE).

PPE is equipment designed to protect the eyes, face, head, respiratory tract, and body extremities from potentially hazardous conditions. It includes such items as goggles, face shields, hard hats, respirators, dust masks, gloves, protective clothing, welding aprons, and safety shoes.

The workplace (or work site) must be assessed to determine if hazards are, or may be, present that will necessitate the use of PPE. The right PPE must be selected and employees fitted and trained in its proper use. Let’s briefly review some of the most common PPE.

Head Protection

When working in an area where the potential exists for head injuries resulting from falling objects or impact hazards, employees must wear head protection, which usually comes in the form of hard hats. Again, as with other forms of PPE, hard hats must be manufactured to federal standards and worn properly to afford proper head protection.

Eye and Face Protection

Eye and face protection is necessary when there is potential exposure to flying particles and dust (wood, glass, metal), molten metal (welding spatter), potentially injurious light radiation (welding glare), or chemicals in any form—liquid, vapor, or gaseous. Eye and face PPE can include safety glasses with side shields, chemical goggles, or a full-face respirator. All devices must comply with strict federal standards.

Remember, not all eye or face protection will protect you from all hazards! Protective glasses with side shields are fine for particulates but provide no protection from hazardous chemical vapors. Remember, the PPE must fit the hazard.

Respiratory Protection

The first step in controlling potentially hazardous dusts, mists, fumes, smoke, or gases in the workplace is the installation of engineering controls such as mechanical ventilation systems. But if such measures are not fully effective (or infeasible, such as at a field work site), then respiratory PPE must be used.

The two basic types of respirators are:

• Air-purifying, and
• Atmosphere-supplying.

The first device simply filters the ambient air by using an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister. The second type actually provides breathing air to the user from an independent source.

The category of respirator, i.e., air-purifying or atmosphere-supplying; style, whether half or full-face; and type of filter or canister all must be carefully selected. Employees must be properly fitted for PPE and trained in when and how to use it. A medical evaluation of a person’s ability to effectively wear and use a respirator must also be conducted.

Hand Protection

Hand injuries are common in workplace. This is because the hands are engaged in almost all activities on the job. Can you imagine any occupation that does not make use of the hand?

Hands are so important because of their utility. They provide us with the dexterity needed to perform most daily activities. In fact, hands, as tools, are so versatile and can perform many intricate functions more than any single known tool developed by man.

 
Suitable gloves should be worn when chemicals and harmful temperature are present or when employees are at risk for cuts, lacerations, abrasions, punctures or burns. Glove selection should be based on performance characteristics of the gloves, conditions, duration of use and hazards present. One type of glove will not work in all situations.
 
The first step in glove selection for use against chemicals is to determine the exact nature of the substances. Read instructions and warnings on chemical container labels and Material Safety Data Sheets before working with any chemical. Recommended glove types are often listed on such labels in the PPE section.

Hearing Protection

Hearing is a precious gift. Continual exposure to elevated noise levels can seriously damage your hearing. If noise levels are too high, employees must be supplied with hearing protection. Hearing protection can be provided by simple disposable earplugs or high-tech earmuffs. It all depends on the nature of the hazard and the type of job.

Foot Protection

Just as with the head, there are potential hazards to the feet from falling or rolling materials, sharp objects that can pierce the sole, or electrical shock; employees must wear appropriate protective footwear. This commonly takes the form of steel-toe safety shoes, often equipped with steel shanks and heavy-duty soles.

Other PPE

Other PPE can take the form of, welding aprons, chemical protective suits, coveralls, and back support braces. All are designed to protect a very important person—you—from potential hazards you might encounter on the job.

But remember, no PPE will protect your vision, your lungs, your head, or any other part of your body unless you wear it and wear it correctly. Be fashionable—be safe!