|
What is personal protective equipment?
Safety, Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect employees from serious workplace injuries or
illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other
workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and safety shoes, PPE includes a variety
of devices and garments such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.
See also OSHA’s website at
www.osha.gov
Can PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) protect workers from head injuries?
Yes. Hard hats can protect your employees from head impact, penetration injuries, and electrical injuries such as
those caused by falling or flying objects, fixed objects, or contact with electrical conductors.
Also, OSHA regulations require employers to ensure that workers cover and protect long hair to prevent
it from getting caught in machine parts such as belts and chains.
How can PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) protect workers from foot and leg injuries?
In addition to foot guards and safety shoes, leggings (e.g., leather, aluminized rayon, or other appropriate material)
can help prevent injuries by protecting employees from hazards such as falling or rolling objects, sharp objects,
wet and slippery surfaces, molten metals, hot surfaces, and electrical hazards.
Does PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) help protect workers from eye and face injuries?
Yes. Besides spectacles and goggles, PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) such as special helmets or shields, spectacles with side shields, and faceshields
can protect employees from the hazards of flying fragments, This is one in a series of informational fact sheets
highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements or carry the
force of legal opinion. For compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code
of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.
See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov
large chips, hot sparks, optical radiation, splashes from molten metals, as well as objects, particles,
sand, dirt, mists, dusts, and glare.
What can PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) do to protect workers from hearing loss?
Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can help prevent damage to hearing. Exposure to high noise levels can cause
irreversible hearing loss or impairment as well as physical and psychological stress. Earplugs made from foam,
waxed cotton, or fiberglass wool are self-forming and usually fit well. A professional should fit your employees
individually for molded or preformed earplugs. Clean earplugs regularly, and replace those you cannot clean.
Should workers wear PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) to help prevent hand injuries?
Yes. Workers exposed to harmful substances through skin absorption, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions,
chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes will benefit from hand protection.
Why should workers wear PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) to protect the whole body?
In some cases workers must shield most or all of their bodies against hazards in the workplace, such as exposure
to heat and radiation as well as hot metals, scalding liquids, body fluids, hazardous materials or waste,
and other hazards. In addition to fire-retardant wool and fireretardant cotton, materials used in whole-body PPE
include rubber, leather, synthetics, and plastic.
When should workers wear PPE (Safety, Personal protective equipment) for respiratory protection?
When engineering controls are not feasible, workers must use appropriate respirators to protect against adverse
health effects caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays,
or vapors. Respirators generally cover the nose and mouth or the entire face or head and help prevent illness and
injury. A proper fit is essential, however, for respirators to be effective. All employees required to wear respirators
must first undergo medical evaluation.
How can You get more information?
|
