Personal protective equipment is a form of defence against accidents or injury, and comes in the form of clothing. This is not to say that PPE is the only way of preventing accidents or injury. It should be used together with all the other methods of staying healthy and safe in the workplace (I.e. Equipment, training, regulations and laws).
PPE must be supplied by your employer free of charge, and you have responsibility as an employee to look after it and use if whenever it is required.
Types of PPE
There are certain parts of the body that require protection from hazards during work, and each piece of PPE must be suitable for the job and be used properly.
Head protection
There are several different types of head protection, but the one most commonly used in construction is the safety helmet (or hard hat). This is used to protect the head from falling objects and knocks, and has an adjustable strap to ensure a snug fit. Some safety helmets come with attachments for ear defenders or eye protection. Safety helmets are meant to be work directly on the head, and must not be worn over any other type of hat.
Eye protection
Eye protection is used to protect the eyes from dust and flying debris. The three main types, all made of a durable plastic, are:
1. Safety goggles - used when there is a danger of dust getting into the eyes or a chance of impact injury.
2. Safety spectacles - give less protection than goggles because they don't fully enclose the eyes and so only protect from flying debris.
Face masks - protect the entire face from flying debris but do not protect the eyes from dust.
Foot protection
Safety boots or shoes are used to protect the feet from falling objects, and to prevent sharp objects such as nails from injuring the foot. Safety boots should have a steel toe-cap and steel mid-sole.
Hearing protection
Hearing protection is used to prevent damage to the ears caused by very loud noises. There are several types of hearing protection available, but the two most common types are:
1. Earplugs - these are small fibre plugs that are inserted onto the ear, and he'd when the noise is not too severe. When using earplugs, make sure that you have clean hands before inserting them, and never use plugs that have been used by somebody else.
2. Ear defenders- these are worn to cover the entire ear, and are connected to a band that fits over the top of the head. They are used when there is excessive noise. They must be cleaned regularly.
Respiratory protection
Respiratory protection is used to prevent workers from breathing in any dust or fumes that may be hazardous. The main type of respiratory protection is the dust mask.
Dust masks are used when working in a dusty environment, and are lightweight, comfortable and easy to fit. They should be worn by only one person, and must be disposed of at the end of the working day. Dust masks will only offer protection from non-toxic dust so, if the worker is to be exposed to toxic dust or fumes, a full respiratory system should be used.
Hand protection
There are several types of hand protection, and each type must be used for the correct task. For example, wearing lightweight rubber gloves to move glass will not offer much protection, so leather gauntlets must be used. Plastic-coated gloves will protect you from certain chemicals, and Kevlar gloves offer cut resistance. To make sure you are wearing the most suitable type of glove for the task, you need to look first at what is going to be done and then match the type of glove to that task.