What Does PPE Mean?

What Does PPE Mean?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing for the eyes, head, ears, hands, respiratory system, body, and feet. It is utilized to protect individuals from the risks of injury and infection while minimizing exposure to chemical, biological, andphysical hazards. PPE serves as the final line of defense when engineering and administrative controls are insufficient in reducing or eliminating risks. What is PPE Safety?
PPE safety is the practice of ensuring a safe, working environment for employees and visitors through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety is paramount toall businesses across industries. Using PPEs, paired with inspections such
as workplace and restaurant inspections, assessments like health and safety risk assessments, and analysis such as gap analysis—is essential to protect employees from risks and hazards. Why is it Important?
According to the hierarchy of controls by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), PPE (sometimes also referred to as PPE equipment)—is
recommended to be the last level of defense to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but some businesses combined it with other control measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their workers. Here are some benefits of using PPEs:  prevent unnecessary injury in the workplace;  protect employees from excessive chemical exposure;  prevent the spread of germs and infectious diseases including COVID-19;  help businesses comply with regulatory requirements(e.g., The Personal ProtectiveEquipment at Work Regulations 1992 that’s recently been extended to limb workers);
and improve employee productivity and efficiency. The 4 Basic Types of PPE and Their Examples However, even the strictest controls will not necessarily eliminate all the risks
associated with most job tasks and this is where the need for PPE must be evaluated. Ahazard assessment can help identify which specialized PPE will be required. There are numerous types of workplace safety equipment available depending on the hazard exposure and work conditions. The following are basic PPE that can help protect
employees:
Face and Eye Protection:
PPE includes safety goggles and face shields and should be used for tasks that cancause eye damage or loss of vision, sprays of toxic liquids, splashes, and burns. Safety Tips:  Check if safety glasses comply with the ANSI Z87.1 eye protection standard.  Ensure that there are no cracks or deformities on the lenses.  Ensure the strap is in good working condition and is firmly sealed to the cheek andforehead.  Clean and disinfect after use.
Respiratory Protection:
PPE includes full-face respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, N95respirators, and surgical masks are used for a task that can cause inhalation of harmful
materials to enter the body. This includes harmful gas, chemicals, large-particledroplets, sprays, splashes, or splatter that may contain viruses and bacteria such as COVID-19, viral infections, and more. Safety Tips:  Ensure that the equipment is fit-tested and the employee has undergone proper trainingbefore wearing one.  Carefully read the instructions to determine if it is designed to help protect against thehazards you may face.  Change filters on half-mask or full-mask respirators frequently.  Replace disposable respirators with every use.  Surgical masks are not to be shared with anyone.  Avoid touching the surgical mask after wearing it.  Change surgical mask timely and should be disposed of after use.  Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or soiled.
Skin and Body Protection:
PPE includes the following categories to protect employees from physical hazards:
Head Protection:
PPE includes hard hats and headgears and should be required for tasks that cancauseany force or object falling to the head. Safety Tips:  Ensure that there are no dents or deformities on the shell and connections are tightenedinside.  Do not store in direct sunlight as extreme heat can cause damage.  Choose appropriate cleaning agents as it can weaken the shells of hard hats andmayeliminate electrical resistance.  Always replace a hard hat if it was used for any kind of impact, even if the damageisunnoticeable. Body Protection:
PPE includes safety vests and suits that can be used for tasks that can cause bodyinjuries from extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bitesand radiation. Safety Tips:  Ensure that they are clean and free from cuts and burns.  Always get a good fit to ensure full body protection.  Ensure bodysuit is heat-resistant clothing when working with high-temperature hazards. Hands Protection:
PPE includes safety gloves and should be used for tasks that can cause handandskinburns, absorption of harmful substances, cuts, fractures or amputations. Safety Tips:  Ensure hand protection fits perfectly with no spaces and is free fromcuts, burns, andchemical residue.  Always replace them if any sign of contamination was observed.  Use rubber gloves when working with heat and electricity to reduce the risk of burnor electrical shock.
Foot Protection:
PPE includes knee pads and safety boots and should be used for tasks that cancauseserious foot and leg injuries from falling or rolling objects, hot substances, electrical
hazards, and slippery surfaces. Safety Tips:  Ensure boots have slip-resistant soles that can protect against compression andimpact.  Ensure the sole plate is in good condition to prevent punctures. Fall Protection
PPE includes safety harnesses and lanyards and should be strictly used for tasksthat
can cause falling from heights and serious injury or death. Safety Tips:  Ensure that the straps are free from tears, deformities, and burn marks.  Check the buckles if connected securely and tightly.  Dispose of the equipment if used after a falling incident.
Hearing Protection:
PPE includes ear muffs and plugs and should be used for tasks that can causehearingproblems and loss of hearing.
Safety Tips:  Ensure the equipment fit the ear canal perfectly.  It is recommended to use formable earplugs to fit different sizes of ear canals.  Use protectors that reduce noise exposure to an acceptable level to have roomfor
communication.  Ensure earplugs are clean and in good condition.
Learn more about hearing protection. Other examples of PPE include:  safety glasses or goggles
 safety shoes
 high-visibility clothing or vests
 heat-resistant gloves
 anti-vibration gloves
 welding PPE such as helmets and and flame-resistant clothing
 chemical-resistant suits or aprons
 safety harnesses and lanyards
Toolbox Talk for PPE
Workplace safety should begin with a hazard assessment. Once the hazards andriskshave been identified, a plan can be put forward to prioritize and reduce the risk of injury. Useful systems and tools to perform hazard assessments include performing ariskassessment and a Job Safety Analysis (JSA).
The hierarchy of controls is a proven safety approach that helps protect employees. If
elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls are not enoughtoeliminate the risk, it is vital to choose the appropriate PPE carefully. Ensure employeesare properly trained to use the safety equipment and be able to detect and report anydamages before commencing work. A toolbox talk about PPE is recommended to discuss the different kinds of PPEthat canbe used to minimize the likelihood and mitigate the effects of hazards. A toolbox talktemplate can help in assessing the sufficiency and availability of safety equipment for all
employees. PPE Safety Requirements
Safety Officers can promote safety in the workplace by following PPE safety
requirements:  Check work sites regularly for the need for PPE.  If PPE is needed, provide employees with properly-fitted PPE.  Train employees on OSHA PPE standards.  Provide protective goggles or face shields when there is a danger of flying particlesor
corrosive materials.  Require that safety glasses are worn at all times in worksites that pose a risk of eyepunctures, abrasions, contusions, or burns.  Provide and require protective gloves in situations where employees could be cut or
possibly exposed to corrosive liquids, chemicals, blood, and other potentially infectiousmaterials.  Require the use of foot protection when there is a risk of foot injury fromhot, corrosive, or poisonous substances, and falling objects.  Inspect hard hats periodically for damage to the shell and suspension system.  Maintain PPE in sanitary and ready-to-use conditions.  Ensure that eyewash facilities and quick drench showers are easily accessible for
employees when they are accidentally exposed to corrosive materials.  Establish safe work procedures for disposing of or decontaminating PPE after hazardousexposures. PPE Safety Examples
These examples of PPE safety are based on a free PPE checklist provided by
BizzSafetyStore for anyone to download and use for free. Nature of work: Laboratory (Chemical Handling)
Potential hazards at work:

1. Eye hazards – Handling/dispensing chemicals and ingredients; working aroundUVlights; chipping, sanding, grinding, welding, metal working; tasks that generatedust
   Risk/s – Chemical exposure, dust particulates, flying debris
   Description of hazard – Corrosive chemicals which are harmful when they explodePPE required – Safety glasses with side shields, chemical splash goggles
   Does equipment undergo testing and in a good condition?
   Goggles are in good working condition. Lenses are clean without any dirt or debrisDoes the equipment fit perfectly?
   They fit perfectly on cheeks and forehead. 2. Head/Neck/Face hazards – Handling/dispensing chemicals and ingredients, chipping, sanding or grinding metal or wood; working on energized equipment, working inconfined spaces
   Risk/s – Chemical exposure, dust particulates, flying debris, UV/IR radiation
   Description of hazard – Dispensing chemicals and spills
   PPE required – Full face shields
   Does equipment undergo testing and in a good condition?
   Face shields have no dents and marks. 3. Respiratory hazards – Handling/using highly hazardous chemicals; tasks that generatedust and/or fumes; cutting, brazing on certain metals (stainless steel)
   Risk/s – Chemical exposure, dust particulates, flying debris
   Description of hazard – Exposure to dangerous vapors
   PPE required – Respirators
   Does the equipment fit perfectly?
   It fits perfectly. Straps are tight.
   Guarantee Proper Usage of PPE with PPECoursesGiving personal protective equipment (PPE) for your workers alone is not enoughtoprotect them from hazards, injuries, and accidents. This is especially true for industriessuch as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. To make sure that their PPEsfullyserve their functions, it’s crucial that your workers understand their proper use, maintenance, and disposal to protect themselves and the people around them. Thankfully, training now is made easy and convenient for you with online PPEcoursesthat your workers can take any time and anywhere. Here, you can use highly recommended premade courses that will cover the different
   types of PPE and demonstrate when and how to use them properly. ReinforcingPPEtraining will not only keep your workers safe from hazards but also boost productivitywithout any threat of unwanted incidents. Try Training, a mobile feature availableontheBizzSafetyStore platform. All Training courses can be customized to fit the needs of your organization andbeshared with your team in minutes. Workers can access the lessons in these courseseven offline. BizzSafetyStore Marketplace: Your One-StopWorkGear & Equipment Shop
   Improve safety in your workplace with BizzSafetyStore as your one-stop shop for all
   work gear and equipment needs. Get on-demand access to top quality and specializedwork gear from trusted equipment brands in the industry—all in one centralizedlocation. Raise the bar of safety and efficiency by empowering employees to request what theyneed with just a few taps, anytime and anywhere!
   PPE Inspections with BizzSafetyStore
   Tracking the number of usable PPE is easier for safety officers as well and they arebetter equipped to provide what their employees need to get the job done. BizzSafetyStore provides a digital space for safety officers and employees to worktowards PPE safety. By utilizing this app, safety officers are able to protect employeesfrom the hazards of the job by ensuring that their PPEs are always in good condition. Make PPE inspections easy by being able to:  Take pictures of PPE defects and even annotate photos to show where the damageis Perform hazard assessments to determine if enforcing PPE use is the best control
   measure for the task
    Generate PPE inspection reports instantly with just one tap, anytime, and anywhere Store inspection data in a safe and cloud-based recordkeeping
   Beyond PPE inspections, BizzSafetyStore can also be used to develop an
   organization’s health and safety program by enabling safety officers to do the following:  Enforce standardized safety protocols across teams and different sites
    Mitigate risks with a wide variety of free risk assessment templates
    Plan corrective actions immediately to prevent incidents from occurring
   Discover a better, faster, and easier way to empower teams in the workplace. Safety Culture has helped businesses around the world achieve
   60%
   reduction in reporting time* 49%
   savings from safety & compliance improvements* 60%
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