As an employer, you should ensure your workers work in a safe and clean environment. You know the safety risks within your segment and the measures you can implement to counteract the threats. This makes you responsible for providing your employees with the necessary PPE that meets OSHA standards. This includes conducting a risk assessment, finding and providing the right PPE, training your employees on using that PPE, and replacing damaged PPE as required.
- Helmet
Helmets help protect workers against head injuries caused by fixed, flying, or falling objects. They should be water-, shock-, and penetration-resistant as well as slow-burning. These days you can get numerous elegant designs and choose extra options like comfortable sweatbands and adjustable interior bands.
- Foot Guards, Leggings, and Safety Shoes
Foot guards, leggings, and safety shoes help protect your employees from various workplace hazards, including rolling, falling, sharp objects, electrical hazards, and slippery, wet, or hot surfaces. Boots (S4 or S5) and safety shoes (Sb, S1, S2, or S3) are perfect choices to protect your employees’ feet against heavy weight. An antiskid sole is valuable when working in damp conditions as it helps protect workers against tripping or sliding. If working on slippery surfaces, such as ice and snow, show claws are an ideal solution.
- Gloves
Fingers and hands often get injured, so it’s crucial to protect them. Arm coverings, finger guards, and gloves will protect your workers from skin damage caused by vibrations, chemical, and thermal burns, cuts, and punctures. Depending on the sector your workers work in and the risk of exposure, hand protection can offer varying levels of thermal protection and meet different grip requirements. Gloves can be made of canvas, leather, or rubber but should be chemical and liquid resistant.
- Earplugs and Earmuffs
Earplugs and earmuffs help protect your employees from excessive noise, which can result in increased stress and irreparable hearing damage. If your employees remain constantly subjected to high noise levels, ensure you provide them with specially molded earplugs. The more constant and louder the noise, the lower the productivity.
- Eye Protection
The eyes are among the most fragile and complex yet essential parts of your body. Thus, you need to protect them from injuries. Protective eyewear helps protect your employees’ eyes from hot substances, flying debris, chemical gases, and hazardous radiation. This PPE should fit the wearer’s face closely and comfortably, be washable, and not restrict vision or movement.
- Respirators
If you work in the manufacturing industry, then a respirator is a must-have protective equipment. It helps protect your workers from inhaling air contaminated with hazardous fumes, dust, sprays, or gases. It must closely fit the wearer’s face and cover the mouth and the nose to be effective. Dust masks protect against fine dust and other hazardous particles. If the materials are highly toxic, wear a full-face mask. OSHA recommends the N95 facemasks because they get tested for breathing and splash resistance, flammability, and bacteria and particle filtration efficiency once manufactured. Recently N95 facemasks have become crucial PPE in the fight against coronavirus.
Hazards exist in all workplaces in numerous forms, including falling objects, sharp edges, flying debris, noise, and chemicals. Luckily, PPE can help minimize exposure to various hazards if used correctly. Providing your employees with the above-mentioned protective equipment and ensuring its use can help you create a safe and healthy working environment.
