Employees have basic duties to consider when looking at PPE Safety, or Personal Protective Equipment Safety. Here, I hope to cover a those points as comprehensively as possible as concisely as possible. One of the most obvious and important aspects of PPE Safety is defining it, so let’s get on and have a look at what Personal Protective Equipment is, exactly.
PPE, or personal protective equipment is any device, or clothing that is present to ensure the safety of the workforce. One important aspect of PPE Safety is that hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment may often not be covered in the same legislation, as they have different regulations covering them. Similarly, motorcycle helmets are not covered, as they are dealt with under road traffic regulations.
One of the most important aspects of PPE Safety is that both users and suppliers should assess its suitability for the job. This is the first and key stage of PPE safety. If you are not sure that the equipment will reduce the risk of injury, then it is required that you make sure. This can be done a number of ways. Initially, a test may be made for the durability of gloves, or a tear test for chemical sheeting perhaps. You may be well aware of PPE Safety usability, and in which case, you are already ahead of the game. In a vast majority of cases, your safety equipment supplier will have the appropriate legislation to hand at point of sale, so it’s worth doing it then.
Maintenance and storage is another key aspect of PPE Safety. A piece of protective equipment can easily become useless if left unused and in an unfit storage facility. The key point to raise here is that each individual product will have its manufacturer’s storage instructions, and in many cases this will be pretty straightforward. It’s also worth noting that you should keep appropriate replacements handy.
There are a number of questions you should ask when assessing PPE Safety. Is it appropriate for the risks? Is an obvious one. Does it increase the overall risk? This is a key point, because even if it satisfies all other criteria, a small blemish may increase the risk of an unassociated hazard or injury. Can it be adjusted for the weather? We work in all conditions, and something that’s appropriate for a light shower may not work properly in a hail storm. Is it compatible with other kinds of PPE? This is especially important when dealing with respirator and eyewear issues.
So you see there are many more issues than simply providing the right gear, and doing a little training. PPE Safety is a serious aspect of any construction safety plan, and should be treated as such.