Any circumstance where the hazard in issue cannot be totally eliminated or managed so that serious harm is improbable requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Your employees are at risk of serious harm or disease without the proper PPE, including exposure to radiation, chemical burns, electric shocks, and more.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggests various protective equipment based on the hazard or working conditions to control or reduce the risk as much as feasible. This post will go over the many PPE categories so that you can learn how to pick the right PPE for a number of typical situations.
Consult any OSHA attorneysif you need additional help understanding which OSHA requirements regulating PPE relate to activities carried out on your job site.
Head Protection
All employees who are working in environments where there is a risk of head injury from collision, electric shocks, burns, or flying or falling objects must wear head protection. Hard hats, helmets, guards, bump caps, and other types of head protection PPE are some examples. These safety helmets are made to deflect blows and fend against punctures from falling or flying items.
Ear Protection
For those who operate in noisy environments where it is not practical to minimize the amount of noise or exposure time, hearing gear is essential. Noise meters, earplugs, acoustic foam, and communications systems are some instances of hearing protection. Since the gear should offer its user an appropriate level of safety, hygiene, and comfort, ordinary cotton is never an acceptable material for a protective device.
Safety for the face and eyes
Workers who are subjected to acids, liquid chemicals, chemical fumes, molten metal, light radiation, or airborne objects must wear eye and facial protection. Over specs, visors, eye and face guards, eyewear attachments, safety glasses, and goggles are a few instances of face and eye PPE. Welding, using lasers, heavy cutting, using gas under pressure, and handling dangerous materials are common tasks that call for the usage of eye and facial protection.
Hand Protection
Hand protective gear like freezer gloves are required to shield your employees from harmful high temperatures, severe burns, heat burns, lacerations, cuts, puncture wounds, and abrasions. Working in cold or hot conditions, handling sharp objects by hand, and handling potentially harmful substances are common occupations that may call for hand protective devices.
Gloves made of canvas, leather, metal, coated fabric, or materials resistant to chemicals are examples of hand protective equipment. It’s critical to speak with an OSHA defence attorney right away if you have been issued a ticket by OSHA for failing to give your employees the proper PPE.
Respiratory Safety
When employees may be exposed to significant levels of hazardous fog, dust, mist, vapor, fume, powder, or gas, they should use a variety of protective equipment known as respiratory equipment. The objective is to safeguard the workers’ health by avoiding atmospheric pollution. Detectors, face masks, safety hoods, respirators, helmets, and other items may be included in this category of gear.
