Prudent law-abiding citizens know that they should be protecting themselves while they’re at work. Choosing the right PPE, or protective equipment, is an important measure to take to keep your staff safe.
You can get exposed to a wide number of hazards at work, including chemicals, body fluids, dust, and more. To protect your employees, you need to make sure they’re equipped with the right protective equipment to keep them safe.
Here’s a short guide on what types of PPE your business needs to cover the bases on.
What Is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is any clothing, equipment, or device that protects workers against health or safety risks on the job. PPE is essential for protecting workers from potential workplace injuries and illnesses. Proper training, evaluation, and use of PPE must be implemented in all workplace environments to ensure the safety of all workers.
Essential Types of PPE
PPE is essential for keeping both workers and the public safe when conducting hazardous activities or working with hazardous materials. The most common types of PPE used are the following:
Gloves
Gloves help protect you from contact with hazardous and infectious materials and are often an important component of workplace safety protocols. Depending on the job, some gloves will offer better protection than others.
Respirators
A respirator will provide a personal barrier between the wearer and any air-borne contaminants and is designed to fit snugly to the wearer’s face. This can range from a simple face mask to a more complex full-face respirator. Depending on the type of hazardous materials being used, the appropriate respirator should be chosen to ensure the best protection.
Check out this 1870 n95 mask.
Safety Glasses and Goggles
Safety glasses and goggles are essential pieces of PPE for protection of the eyes and face from hazards such as:
- flying objects
- metal chips
- dust
- caustic or molten materials
- chemical splashes
- potent fumes
Safety glasses are designed with impact-resistant frames and lenses to protect the eyes from hazardous particles. Goggles offer a higher level of protection providing a complete seal around the eyes preventing contaminants from entering. Safety glasses and goggles are effective, lightweight, comfortable, and impact-resistant.
Face Shields
Face shields can help keep you safe during activities that involve exposure to infectious agents. Made of either plastic or clear foam, face shields cover the entire face. They help protect it by acting as a physical barrier against direct contact.
Hard Hats
Hard hats are designed to protect from blows, bumps, objects falling from the ceiling, and head injuries. They come in many different styles ranging from the full brim and pin lock styles to slotted and vented confining designs. The color and reflective material on hard hats may be necessary for some occupations for high visibility to workers and supervisors.
Safety Boots
Safety boots are designed to provide better grip, slip resistance, and protection from falling objects. They provide protection for the feet and ankles from sharp objects and extreme temperatures. Safety boots also provide important electrical hazard protection from open circuits and electric shock.
Explore These Different Types of PPE
The proper use of PPE is essential to protecting yourself from potential hazards in the workplace. A variety of PPE should be used in order to stay safe.
Be sure to consult industry regulations to ensure that the proper PPE is used for any given task. Contact an expert for more information on the essential types of PPE to keep you safe.
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