PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
PPE is all equipment which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work which protects him/her against one or more risks to his/her health and safety.
The Employer
- Must provide suitable PPE to all employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health and safety while at work and provide training in its use.
Managers and Supervisors
- Must ensure that all PPE is properly stored and maintained in clean, efficient and working order.
- Must ensure all their staff are trained to use the PPE.
- Must ensure all their staff use the appropriate PPE when necessary.
- Must keep a register of PPE and regularly inspect it.
Employee
- Must co-operate with your employer and use the PPE supplied to you when necessary.
- Must report any defects to their PPE.
Your section should be keeping a PPE register and carrying out regular inspections of your PPE. If any of your equipment is damaged do not use it; replace it before you carry out any operation that the PPE is intended to protect you from.
PPE is available for protection from:
- Atmospheric contamination – dust, fumes, mist, gas, low oxygen, noise etc
- Radiation – ionising and non-ionising
- Impact and abrasion – head, hand, foot, body.
- Foul weather – heat, humidity, sand storms.
- Emergencies – tank escape, etc.
Head Protection
The most common hazard for which protection is provided is against falling objects. The protection is provided by the strength of the hard hat material and a properly adjusted cradle acting as a shock absorber. It is therefore most important that the hard hat internal cradle is adjusted to fit you correctly. Do not write on or deface your hard hat as it will impair its effectiveness ( i.e. by using waterproof or solvent marker pens). Replace your hard hat at recommended intervals (i.e. every two years).
Bump caps are used to protect against bruising and abrasion by personnel working in confined spaces. They are only designed to protect against these minor risks and must not be used as protection against falling objects. Snoods, hair nets, hats and caps made of various materials are available to prevent hair becoming entangled in moving machinery.
Body Protection
Chemical Resistant
Use of chemical resistant clothing falls into the following general grades:
- Light duty: uncoated cotton or synthetic fabrics in the form of overalls, smocks and laboratory coats are satisfactory for protection against low-level splashes of diluted chemicals.
- Medium duty: additional protection provided by aprons on top of light duty protective clothing.
- Heavy duty: PVC coated fabric in the form of overalls or two-piece suits. Usually used in conjunction with acid hoods. This clothing should always be washed and hosed down before removal.
High Visibility Clothing
There are many varieties of high visibility clothing on the market today. Tabards and coats to the correct standard are available from the Acton Stores or via your Supervisor and must be worn according to site rules.
Other types
Leather and flame retardant fabrics for use by welders; Kevlar leggings, etc. for chain saw workers; foul weather protection.
Hand protection
There are a variety of glove designs and materials to protect against:
- Absorption
- Abrasions
- Wounds
- Dermatitis
- Penetration
- Electric shock
- Temperature, Etc....
The type required depends on the operation being carried out. Gloves are available from your supervisor. Check with your Supervisor if in doubt about the type you should be using. Barrier creams and hand cleaners are also available and you are strongly recommended to make use of them.
Foot Protection
Safety Footwear may be needed to protect against:
- Toe Injuries
- Penetration
- Slipping
- Heat
- Oil / Water
- Electric shock
- Static electricity
- Chemicals
- Molten metals
Respiratory Protection
Where harmful materials are present as dusts, fumes, gases or there is an oxygen-deficient atmosphere, steps must be taken to control the situation. Generally this can be done by isolation and the provision of exhaust systems. Where such control measures are not possible appropriate respiratory or breathing apparatus must be used. Note the difference between the two types:
- Breathing apparatus – provides uncontaminated air or oxygen.
- Respiratory apparatus – purifies the air breathed from the atmosphere.
Hearing Protection
Noise is covered in a separate Toolbox subject. Briefly, there are three main types of hearing protection:
Ear Plugs
- Only effective in relatively low noise level areas.
- Provide the level of protection for most of activities. The combined hard hat and ear defender is also available.
If you are in doubt about the correct standard of equipment to use refer your Country PPEs standards or organisation PPE guidelines
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ITS USE AND CARE
It is the last line of defense. After exhausting all the necessary mechanical or physical precautions for given hazards, one must wear PPE as and when required.
Head Protection : To protect against head injury when you are exposed to being stuck/by falling/ flying objects. Chinstrap to be used especially for working at height. Hardhat should not be tempered with e.g. drilling holes. Do not use hardhat without suspenders.
Eye protection : Various activities require the eye protection, e.g. cutting, chipping, buffing, grinding, handling of chemicals, welding or cutting operation, painting etc. To be handled and stored so that the safety glasses/ goggles does get scratches for clear visibility.
Ear protection : Whenever high noise level is encountered during works (beyond 85 dB) appropriate ear protections should be worn.
Respiratory Protection : This is mainly against the hazard of dust and fumes to be worn.
Body Protection : Leather aprons, gloves for welding/ gas cutting works. Rubber/PVC aprons for handling corrosive, chemicals, acid, alkali, etc.
Hand Protection : Appropriate type of hand protection should be used. e.g. for handling metal, rods, bricks, blocks, timber etc., use cotton (heavy types hand gloves). For chemicals use correct type of gloves depending on chemicals properties.
Feet protection : Depending on the type of activity being carried out, use the feet protection e.g. safety shoes, gumboots, chemical resistant etc.
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