subject: Hazards At Workplaces With Ppe Solutions [print this page] How many of us are aware of our personal protection at work places? How many have been injured because of their employers inefficiency in providing adequate protective equipment to their employees at work? Well, it stands as a duty for the employers concerning the provision and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work and to ensure that Personal Protective Equipment is adequately supplied and used correctly at work wherever there are risks to safety and health that cannot be controlled in any other ways.
Personal Protective Equipment should always be considered a last resort. When other precautions fail to reduce the risk of injury, PPE comes into picture. An employer's duty is to combat the risk at source if possible and the first priority being engineering solutions such as provision of guards on machinery which would help in improving health and safety.
On 1st January 1993, the main legislation that governs Personal Protective Equipment called Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 came into force. PPE as defined in the Regulations states all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work which protects him against one or more risks to his health and safety". Therefore, PPE includes:-
* Gloves
* Eye protection
* High visibility clothing
* Safety Helmet
* Safety footwear
* Safety harnesses
* Masks
All the equipments are of equal importance for the protection of the employee at their job site. The nature of job decides the allocation of a PPE. Its use starts with the assessment of all different hazards in the workplace. Further assessment should be done to ascertain which types of PPE are suitable to protect against the hazards linked to each job. To add to this, an employer must also see whether the supplied PPE is compatible with each other. For example, a particular type of respirator may make it difficult to get eye protection or ear protection to fit properly. More the pieces of PPE needed by an individual the more the potential problems. Usage of PPE protects different parts of the body from various hazards. Details as mentioned below:
Eyes:
Hazards - Chemical or Metal splash, Radiation, Projectiles, Debris, Gas and Vapour.
PPE Solutions are Safety Glasses or Goggles, Face Shields, Visors.
Head:
Hazards - Impact from falling or flying objects or debris, Risk of head bumping, Hair entanglement.
PPE Solutions are a range of Safety Helmets and Bump Caps.
PPE Solutions are Respirator or Disposable filtering face piece, Half or full face Respirators, Breathing apparatus, Air fed helmets.
Body:
Hazards - Chemical or metal splash, Temperature extremes, Contaminated dust, Adverse weather, Spray from pressure leaks or Spray guns, Impact or penetration, Excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing.
PPE Solutions are Boiler suits, Conventional or disposable overalls, High visibility clothing, Specialist protective clothing, Chain mail aprons.
Hands and Arms:
Hazards - Chemicals, Abrasion, Temperature extremes, Electric shock, Cuts and punctures, Impact, Skin infection, Disease or contamination.
PPE Solutions -Gloves, Mitts, Gauntlets, Wrist cuffs, Armlets.
Feet and Legs:
Hazards - Abrasion, Wet or cold weather, Electrostatic build-up, Slipping, Cuts and punctures, Metal and chemical splash, Falling objects.
PPE Solutions - Gaiters, Safety Boots and Shoes with protective toe caps and penetration resistant soles, Leggings, Spats.
Thus, an adequately equipped work place confirms the safety and health of the employee. Together with the installation of the PPE; its maintenance also plays a vital part. The PPE should be well maintained and properly stored while not in use. It should be kept clean and in good repair. Manufacturer's maintenance schedule should be followed regularly. Simple maintenance can be done by the trained wearer but incase of complicated repairs, it should always be carried out by a specialist.
Finally, Personal Protection using Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) at work place is an indispensable issue that helps both the employer and the employee to stay and work in a healthy and safe environment.
