Understanding Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

VARIOUS LEVELS OF PPE ARE AN IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY PART OF OUR DAILY ROUTINE AT TRADEBE. DOES YOUR TEAM UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPES OF PPE ARE REQUIRED FOR THEIR DAILY TASKS?

Without the use of proper Personal Protective Equipment our jobs could not be performed in a safe and healthy manner. That is why it is important to wear the correct PPE for every job task to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in the work place.

WHAT IS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT?

Personal Protective Equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.

TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

• Respiratory protection - for example, Air purifying respirator, SCBA, dust mask

• Eye protection – for example, safety glasses, splash shields, visors

• Hearing protection – for example, ear plugs & muffs

• Hand protection – for example, leather gloves, nitrile gloves

• Foot protection – for example, steel toe boots, slip resistant soled shoes

• Head protection – for example, hard hats, bump caps

• Working from heights - for example, harness and fall arrest devices

• Skin protection – for example, fire resistant clothes, Tyvek suits

What can be done to ensure proper use of personal protective equipment?

All personal protective equipment should be safely designed and constructed and should be readily available to all employees. It should fit comfortably, encouraging worker use. If the personal protective equipment does not fit properly, it can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed.