PPE

According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and RIDDOR, there are 604,000 self-reported injuries and 61,663 company-reported non-fatal workplace injuries. The injuries vary, such as slips, trips, or falls; injuries while handling, lifting or carrying; and being struck by moving. The personal protective equipment does its job in protecting people from more serious injuries.

Why is PPE important?

Wearing personal protective equipment can prevent or lower workers’ exposure to hazards. For example, biological, chemical, radiological, electrical, mechanical, and other types of risks. Without this protection, the risk of getting injuries and illness is increasing. In the most severe case, you can lose your life due to the risks that seem small in the first place.

PPE is applicable not only to construction sites but also to medical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Every workplace requires a different kind of protection that is suitable for their situation. Moreover, they have different types of settings and specific threats present. Without proper safety measures, it will not be enough to cover all the hazards, which means it is less effective.

Depending on the setting, not every PPE works in the other workplace. For example, you don’t need to wear hard hats in medical settings because there will not be any risk of falling debris. If you want to learn more about it, here are the explanation of each PPE based on the workplace:

Construction sites

In a worksite, the setting exposes the workers to multiple hazards. For instance, there could be falling objects, loud noise, dust, and sharp tools. The kind of safety you need to use is the one that can save you against physical and mechanical risks. Here are the examples of PPE you might see in this type of workplace:

• Head protection: Hard hats to protect against falling debris.
• Eye and face protection: Since there are dust, sparks, or flying particles, you need to wear items like safety goggles or face shields to guard against them.
• Hearing protection: Anything above 85 decibels (dB) is dangerous for human hearing. However, the average can be 80-90 dB. Also, it can even exceed 100 dB for some tasks and equipment. This is why earplugs or earmuffs are important for site workers. 
• Foot protection: Wearing PPE like steel-toed boots can prevent crush injuries to your foot. 
• High-visibility clothing: Since there are many things that can happen inside a work site, it is best to wear reflective vests. So people can see a person with better vision, especially when moving vehicles and equipment.

Healthcare settings

There are biological and infectious risks professionals have to avoid in hospitals and clinics. That is to say, PPE in this setting is used to control the contamination. This means that you don’t want to spread bacteria or viruses to visitors and workers. This is why medical workers and patients need to wear this kind of protection.

1. Gloves: Disposable gloves to prevent contact with infectious materials.
2. Face masks and respirators: There is a risk of airborne pathogens, and workers need to wear surgical masks or N95 respirators to protect against them. 
3. Gowns and aprons: Shielding the clothes and skin from infectious agents.
4. Eye protection: Bodily fluids can contain bacteria or viruses, and they can spread through human eyes. Therefore, PPE like face shields or masks is vital. 
5. Caps and shoe covers: For maintaining a sterile environment.

Chemical laboratories and industries

Workers need to wear PPE when they are working on chemicals. In particular, there are toxic chemicals that can cause a wide range of health effects. Other than that, there are flammable and explosive, corrosive, and reactive chemicals they need to be aware of. 

• Chemical-resistant gloves: For handling corrosive substances with gloves like nitrile or neoprene.
• Splash goggles: To protect the eyes from chemical splashes.
• Lab coats or chemical-resistant suits: Protect your body from any dangerous substance.
• Respirators or fume hoods: To avoid inhalation of toxic vapours.
• Boot covers: Preventing any chemical contamination on footwear.

Manufacturing and mechanical workshops

In a manufacturing and mechanical place, there are many moving parts and sharp tools. Also, there is a chance of ejected materials and body parts being drawn in or trapped. Not wearing PPE increases the risk of cuts, abrasions, and machine-related injuries. This is why workers are using these safeties in the workplace:

1. Cut-resistant gloves: For handling sharp tools and materials.
2. Safety glasses or face shields: There are risks from metal shaving, sparks, or dust.
3. Coveralls or durable work clothing: Reducing skin exposure can prevent accidents like burning their skin.
4. Hearing protection: This kind of working place is a high-noise area.
5. Safety shoes: Workers need to wear slip-resistant soles and toe safeties.