Selection Of Personal Protective Equipment Is Important
Personal protective equipment is designed to protect the wearer from injuries that may arise during their day-to-day activities. It should be worn in hazardous environments or when potential for injury exists. Poor or improper use of PPE can lead to accidents and injuries, so it is important for safety professionals and general employees alike to understand the guidelines for selecting and wearing appropriate gear. Remember that PPE is a tool, not an end in itself. Sometimes it's best to remove the protective gear and simply use basic safety precautions.
Possible injuries stemming from accidents with chemicals include burns, skin irritants, chemical splashes, and even neurological damage from repeated exposure to chemicals. Small exposures to harmful chemicals can occur in locations where the hazards may not be visible (e.g., inside vehicles or moving machinery). The first line of defense is to protect the body from exposure by wearing appropriate apparel (e.g., gloves, face mask) and keeping these items close at hand at all times.
PPE is frequently worn in the food service industry by workers who must handle raw meat and poultry. Personal protective equipment that is designed to protect workers from contamination include aprons, hairnets, gloves, and shoes. Food service workers should also wear protective eyewear with side shields and goggles (not glasses) to prevent items from falling into the eyes or off of work surfaces and into the eyes. If a worker wears contact lenses, they can be severely damaged if objects come in contact with them on the job. In light of these dangers, wearing eye protection is highly recommended.
There are many different types of PPE available to protect employees from workplace hazards. Each type of equipment has its own set of guidelines for use. Some of the most common types are listed briefly below:
Specific PPE may be required by OSHA for particular jobs, as specified in OSHA standards for each industry, or it may be required by the manufacturer of a product. It most cases though, PPE is not mandated by law or regulation but is recommended by employers to provide additional workplace safety. The benefits in reduced costs from fewer injuries, loss of time and morale may be seen as offsetting increased cost of protecting employees against potential hazards.
While PPE is effective in preventing a wide range of workplace injuries and illnesses, there are limitations to its effectiveness. For example, goggles, gloves and ear plugs do not protect against all chemicals or from eye irritation or shock. PPE does not sufficiently protect the user from severe electrical shocks, so it is important to know the voltage of workplace equipment.
PPE comes in many varieties and can be purchased at retail stores such as The Safety Place or Work Smart! Work Harder.
In addition to the personal protective equipment required by OSHA workplace standards, employers often choose to supply their own protective gear that is designed specifically for their business. The following types of PPE can help prevent injuries in a wide range of workplaces:
Some high-risk jobs require additional protection to make them safer. Timber workers who have the potential for large-scale falls into deep water, for example, may wear a full body harness with a lanyard attached to an anchor point. Mechanics who work around moving airbags on cars may wear kevlar overalls and thick gloves to prevent injury from the bag's high pressure if it deploys suddenly.
Another additional layer of protection is through hazard communication training in accordance with OSHA's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). This standard requires that employers inform all workers of any potentially hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Workers must then be trained about these hazards and how to avoid them, including how to safely handle the material in question (e.g. wearing appropriate PPE). In addition to training, employers are required to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical on the premises, and should ensure that all chemicals in the workplace have an MSDS (if not supplied by the employer).
Many employers also require workers to sign a contract before employment or when renewing employees. The contract may state that the employee's life and health are under the employer's "exclusive control," and further specify that some employee duties will be performed at the discretion of the employer (e.g. wearing PPE, working with hazardous chemical materials, etc.).
A widely used method of preventing chemical work-related injuries is through hazard analysis. Employers that perform safety surveys on their facilities are usually required to document the findings and report them to government agencies such as OSHA. Hazard analysis is a systematic, systematic process for identifying hazards, evaluating the effectiveness of controls, and performing management actions. This is an important first step in prevention of chemical related work-related injuries.
Prevention can also be achieved by implementing "right first" techniques. This process, designed by SAID, is a series of procedural steps to minimize the risk of chemical work-related injuries. It consists of:
There are several laws in Canada that require employers to provide PPE to their employees, including the Chemical Substances Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Occupational Health and Safety Act applies to all workplaces (including construction sites), whereas the Chemical Substances Act applies only to federal government facilities, but also covers unorganized workplaces (such as an office building).
The Canada Labour Code also addresses safety maintenance in some detail, requiring employers to provide workers with safety equipment; defined as "a fit for purpose device that is manufactured specifically for the safe performance of its intended functions". Some examples of safety equipment are steel-toed boots, safety goggles, and hard hats.
Previously, the only legislation dealing with safety equipment at work in France was the law of 1972. For example, under this law employers have to provide their employees with anti-radiation gloves and anti-radiation glasses to prevent harm when working around radioactive materials. However, in 2006 a new health and safety law has been passed in France which now mandates employers to provide workers with PPE at no cost. This new law also bans companies from fining their employees for accidents that were caused by the lack of PPE like goggles or life jackets.
Within the European Union, the European Commission is responsible for ensuring that all member countries adopt and implement EU-wide PPE standards. The European Personal Protective Equipment Directive (PPE Directive) lays out the PPE requirements for employers. The directive specifically addresses construction workers, laying out detailed requirements for their safety equipment when working on construction sites.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the U.S. government agency responsible for creating and enforcing workplace regulations. OSHA publishes standards that require employers to provide personal protective equipment to their employees who work in certain industries and tasks. OSHA also provides information about workplace hazards and how to avoid them through safety training courses, posters, pamphlets, etc.
Conclusion
Personal protective equipment prevents chemical related injuries and fatalities, especially in the workplace. The use of it has helped to expose employees to less harmful chemicals, thus preventing one of the most common health issues caused by chemicals. Although there are many types of personal protective equipment, all should be worn to prevent harm at the workplace. Personal protective equipment helps protect workers from harmful chemicals in their environment and is with them every step of the way.
References
Piper, RM (2006): Chemical safety—hazards and controls. In: Piper, RM ed., Environmental Chemistry for the Built Environment. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann p. 10-15 (ISBN 0-7506-7639-2).