It’s Important to Choose the Right PPE!

Your workers want to live a quality life free from injuries and health issues. If they don’t use the right PPE, injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. How about later in life — wouldn’t they want to be healthy during their retirement?

Using PPE can seem simple. Hand out safety glasses, gloves, steel-toe shoes, or earplugs — and done! The reality is much more complicated. Injuries related to PPE often stem from wearing the wrong type of equipment for the task, not wearing the PPE correctly, or not wearing the equipment because it wasn’t clear what they need to do. Your workers need to understand your company’s requirements, use the right equipment, and know how and when to use PPE.

When selecting PPE, it’s crucial to move beyond just following procedures. Take the time to evaluate the specific risks of employees’ working environment and choose equipment that addresses those risks effectively. This means not allowing workers to simply pick up the first pair of gloves or safety glasses they see, but ensuring they are appropriate for the job.

Selecting certified PPE ensures that workers are using the best equipment available to protect them from hazards. It’s required to go through rigorous testing to ensure it’ll withstand workplace wear and tear. Like labels on food products eaten or clothing worn, similarly, markings on PPE provide information about its quality and ratings.

Every type of PPE has certification requirements. You must identify what markings workers will need to look for to verify that the PPE is certified and safe to use. Each PPE type has marking requirements. They will either be imprinted directly on the PPE or one of the manufacturer’s stickers.