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Why Wear Personal Protective Equipment On The Job

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PPE is one of the most important safety tools at your disposal. No matter what kind of PPE you’re using, you can be sure it was designed to keep you safer at work. PPE encompasses a lot of different types of equipment. Far too often, workers forget how necessary PPE is in certain workplace settings. Hospitals, factories, warehouses, and more all rely on PPE.


Why Wear Personal Protective Equipment On The Job

PPE is one of the most important safety tools at your disposal. No matter what kind of PPE you’re using, you can be sure it was designed to keep you safer at work. PPE encompasses a lot of different types of equipment. Far too often, workers forget how necessary PPE is in certain workplace settings. Hospitals, factories, warehouses, and more all rely on PPE. 

 

PPE Meaning

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. It’s a term that refers to things you might wear at a job in order to protect yourself from harm. There are many different types of things PPE prtects you from. In many cases, the type of PPE you use depends on the hazards you encounter at work. In turn, the hazards you encounter at work often depend on the industry in which you work.

Every indstry relies on safety equipment to some extent. Due to the risks involved, some industries require more safety equipment than others. These industries include manufacturing, restaurants, and auto repair centers. Many of these industries use heavy machinery that can be dangerous. Other industries, like construction, have a greater risk of injuring one's head from falling materials. PPE also includes items designed to prevent or limit the spread of infection. Many people think this type of PPE is only used in medical facilities like hospitals, however other businesses can use these tools. No matter the industry, PPE can help keep you and your employees safe from workplace hazards.

 

PPE Equipment

From the top of your head, to the bottom of your feet, there is a form of PPE to protect every part of your body. PPE is designed with specific protections in mind. Generally, protective wear will be made to protect body parts from specific hazards. 

 

Headgear

There are numerous ways to protect your head against harm by using PPE. Hard hats are made of strong materials like polyethylene. This allows them to absorb a lot of the shock and force from falling objects. They can also protect against bumping into something, like a low-hanging bar or a low ceiling. 

Other types of protective headgear include face masks and shields. Welders require very protective face shields to protect them from bright flashes and dangerous sparks. Some face masks are designed to protect against disease. They limit the amount of saliva spread into the air, which reduces the spread of airborne diseases. These types of face masks are common in medical settings. Workers in manufacturing use masks and respirators that prevent them from breathing in dangerous inhalants. Inhalants like dust are very common. Some inhalants, like wood dust, are especially harmful and should be avoided.  

 

Gloves

Gloves used as PPE can do a lot more than simply keep your hands warm. While dangerous temperatures can be a workplace hazard, work gloves usually keep your hands safe from extreme heat. PPE gloves are typically used to protect your hands against chemicals, cuts, shocks, and machinery. OSHA has four categories of gloves based on the material that they are made out of. 

The first category includes gloves made of leather, canvas, or metal mesh. These gloves can protect your hands against heat, chips, and even sometimes acid. The second category refers to fabric and fabric-coated gloves. Fabric gloves are usually designed to protect against chafing while handling rough materials. They may also provide some slip resistance. Because of this, these gloves are popular with brick handlers. 

Chemical and liquid-resistant gloves keep your hands safe and dry when handling dangerous materials. They are usually made from rubber or plastic. There are many types of chemical-resistant gloves that are made of different types of plastic, depending on the chemicals they will be used with. The last category includes insulating rubber gloves. Rubber gloves stop dangerous electrical currents from shocking the wearer. They are very common among electricians. 

 

Footwear

Protective footwear has many beneficial qualities that keep workers safe. Some footwear is slip resistant in order to reduce the number of falls. Others are hard, sometimes lined with steel in the toes. These protect feet from being crushed by falling objects or crushing equipment. 

 

Personal Protective Equipment

Assessing your workplace hazards is the best way to determine what PPE is necessary for your workplace. If your work environment is prone to falling items, low ceilings, or low-hanging equipment, then hard hats might be a wise investment. Hard hats will protect your employees from dangerous head injuries. While head injuries might seem minor in the moment, they can become serious very quickly. Minor head injuries can cause bumps, bruises, and cuts. More serious head injuries can lead to concussions, skull fractures, and even seizures. It’s important to protect your head and brain while at work, as there can be very dangerous consequences when these areas are injured. 

Workplaces with a lot of dangerous chemicals should take many precautions. These businesses should invest in PPE that includes gloves, respirators, and even full-body gear. Chemicals and other harmful substances can cause serious harm. Keeping these away from the skin or eyes can have a huge effect on safety. PPE for chemicals also protects against inhalants that can cause lung-related issues, including cancer. 

Work environments with a lot of noise require PPE that protects the ears. Noise can be very dangerous in the workplace. While some equipment, like ceiling baffles, are designed to absorb sound in the room, it also helps to have additional protection. Noise-canceling headphones and earplugs can be used alongside other systems in order to reduce the overall noise level. 

 

Singer Safety Equipment

While PPE is important, it isn’t the only type of safety equipment. A safe work environment requires PPE as well as other features. Singer Safety produces excellent safety equipment that can be used alongside PPE to keep your employees safe. Noise-reducing systems, industrial curtains, vinyl strip doors, and more all contribute to the overall safety of your business. Invest in your business’s safety by purchasing from Singer Safety. 

 


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