What is PPE in Safety?

“PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment”

PPE is any special device or clothing designed to protect workers from a range of hazards in the workplace. PPEs are useful in mitigating workers’ exposure to harmful substances, thus reducing the chances of illnesses and injuries.

The injuries may occur to a person in contact with chemical, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.

Each PPE has a specific use, and it is made of specialized materials. PPE includes safety helmets, gloves, eyeglasses, earplugs, full-body suits, vests, hard hats, safety footwear, and Respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

What is the 7 types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Based on the work conditions and severity of the hazards, below is a list of personal protective equipment (PPE) equipment used in the workplace.

Head Protection:

• Head protection is needed to protect the scalp area. PPE includes Safety helmets and hard hats to protect the workers against heavy materials falling from a height or swinging objects in the workplace.
• Head protection is highly required while performing the task in construction, building repair, work in excavation or tunnels, and driving motorbikes.

Eye and Face Protection:

• Usually, workplace surroundings are filled with dust, gases, fumes, and mists, where PPE includes several eye-protection methods such as Safety spectacles, Eye shield, Safety goggles, and Face shields to protect your eyes from loss of vision, sprays of toxic liquids, splashes, and burns.
• Face shields are heavier than other equipment, but they protect your face and do not enclose your eyes.

Hearing Protection:

• Hearing loss may occur to anyone working in noisy surroundings above the exposure action level. PPE like Earmuffs or defenders, Ear plugs, and canal Caps protect workers from severe ear damage.
• Earmuffs cover the ear, earplugs are inserted inside the ear canal, and the canal caps cover the outer part of the ear, ultimately protecting your ears and reducing risk.

Respiratory Protection:

• The harmful gases, chemicals, and particle-droplets splashes which contain viruses and bacteria cause human inhalation.
• RPE includes full-face respirators, gas masks, N95 respirators, and self-contained breathing apparatus to protect workers from serious health injuries.

Hand Protection:

• While working, handling sharp objects, vibrating equipment, Chemical substances can cause hand cuts, fractures, skin burns, and absorption of harmful substances.
• PPE includes hand protection like safety gloves, gauntlets, and Wrist cuff armlets to avoid hand injuries.

Foot Protection:

• Leg injuries may occur from falling or rolling objects, hot substances, electrical hazards, and slippery surfaces.
• Using PPE like Knee pads, Safety boots protect workers where the risk of heavy objects falling on their feet in the workplace.

Body Protection:

• The injuries may occur to workers from extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bites, and radiation.
• Wearing proper PPE like life jackets, trousers, vests, clothing for hot, cold, or bad weather, and clothing for handling machinery covers your body and protect against injuries.

Importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

• Helps in mitigating injuries and illnesses.
• Assures compliance with safety standards.
• Improves employee confidence and productivity.
• Ensures choosing appropriate PPE, effective use and maintenance for reducing risks.
• PPE is essential for controlling risks and organizations are committed to train employees for proper use.
• Improving safety starts with effective PPE usage and right training is the key for it.
• It helps in elevating the confidence of employees, leads to improved satisfaction, ultimately creates a positive work culture

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