14 Mar Personal Protective Equipment – Work Like a Professional

Personal Protective Equipment – Work Like a Professional

Professional athletes would never consider entering a game without the protective equipment required for the hazards they face. Helmets, pads, guards, and specialized footwear may sometimes feel uncomfortable, but they can reduce the severity of an injury when something goes wrong.

The same principle applies at work. Personal protective equipment (PPE) provides a barrier between you and workplace hazards. Depending on the job, required PPE may include hard hats, safety glasses, face shields, gloves, hearing protection, protective footwear, respirators, high-visibility clothing, or other specialized equipment.

PPE Is Your Last Line of Defense

PPE does not eliminate a workplace hazard or prevent every incident. Safety glasses cannot prevent a grinding wheel from breaking, and safety-toe footwear cannot prevent an object from being dropped.

What PPE can do is reduce your exposure and lessen the severity of an injury when an incident occurs.

That is why required PPE must be worn every time the hazard is present—not only when a supervisor is watching or when the task is expected to take a long time.

Wear the PPE Required for the Job

Different hazards require different types of protection. Before beginning work:

• Identify the hazards associated with the task.
• Know what PPE is required.
• Make sure the PPE is appropriate for the specific hazard.
• Inspect the equipment before use.
• Make sure it fits properly.
• Wear it for the entire time you are exposed to the hazard.
• Maintain and store PPE according to company and manufacturer requirements.
• Replace damaged, worn, or defective equipment.

Never modify PPE or use it for a purpose for which it was not designed.

Proper Fit Matters

PPE cannot provide its intended protection if it does not fit or function properly. Employees sometimes complain that protective equipment is:

• Too heavy.
• Too hot.
• Uncomfortable.
• Difficult to see through.
• Too tight or too loose.
• Interfering with the work.

Do not simply remove required PPE because it is uncomfortable. Report the problem to your supervisor. Different sizes, models, adjustments, or types of equipment may provide the required protection while fitting more comfortably.

PPE should fit properly without creating additional hazards or interfering unnecessarily with the work.

Inspect Before You Protect

Protective equipment can deteriorate through normal use, exposure, contamination, or improper storage.

Before each use, check applicable PPE for:

• Cracks, tears, holes, or cuts.
• Broken or missing components.
• Excessive wear.
• Chemical or other contamination.
• Damaged straps, fasteners, or suspension systems.
• Scratched or damaged lenses.
• Other conditions that could reduce its effectiveness.

Remove defective PPE from service and obtain a suitable replacement.

Don’t Take Shortcuts

A task that takes only a few seconds can still cause a permanent injury. Flying particles, falling objects, chemical splashes, hazardous noise, and other exposures do not become less dangerous because the job is quick.

If PPE is required, put it on before entering the hazardous area or beginning the task.

Never allow inconvenience, schedule pressure, or overconfidence to become a reason for working without required protection.

Remember

Professional workers treat PPE as part of the job—not as an inconvenience. Know what protection is required, make sure it fits, inspect it before use, and wear it every time you are exposed to the hazard.