Tag Archives: planning

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WORKING AT HEIGHTS: A GUIDE TO STAYING SAFE (GUEST POST)

 There are going to be many times in your life where you are likely to be required to work at heights; whether it’s due to a tree that needs trimming or your roof tiles need replacing, working at heights can be incredibly dangerous. However, there are a number of ways in which you can change the way that you work at heights in order to make the process safer and thus reduce the risk of accidents occurring. 

Regulations Regarding Working at Heights

There are a number of rules and regulations in place that prevent those who work at heights for a living from making potentially fatal mistakes. 

Organization

One of the most important regulations in place is that all work at height must be organized and planned thoroughly to avoid any incidents or accidents. This also means that you should plan your actions in accordance with any accidents that may occur; for instance what would you do if you fell from a great height? Do you have a method of contacting others in the event of an emergency? 

Qualifications

It’s essential that all of those that work in forestry, arboriculture, construction and many other trades are qualified to work at heights and are competent in doing so. If you are not qualified to work at heights you could be putting yourself and those around you at risk, you could also get into a lot of trouble as you will be held responsible for any mistakes that are made.  

Assessment

Before you begin a job that requires you to work at height you should perform a risk assessment and determine whether or not the job is too dangerous for you to participate in. Even if the task that you have been given is not the most dangerous job that you have encountered it’s still recommended that you utilize a powered access platform as these platforms are often surrounded by barriers that will prevent your fall.

If you do not make an assessment of the area that you will be working in before you begin it’s possibly that you could cause harm to others through fallen branches, displaced roof tiles or falling debris. 

Equipment

Once you’ve made an assessment of the task that requires you to work at height you must select the appropriate equipment that you will use for the job. It’s crucial that you keep an eye upon the condition of your fall protection equipment and ensure that it is maintained at all times; allowing your equipment to fall into disrepair can cause serious issues as it means that they are liable to break or make the task at hand much more difficult than it has to be. 

Overall there are many different aspects of working at heights that you must take into account, and these include the various dangers. Where possible we recommend that you avoid working at heights, but if it’s necessary you should follow the guidelines above.

We also ask that you remember that falling from a great height can cause a loss of mobility and in many cases the fall can be fatal; ensure that there are measures in place that will minimize the distance and the consequences of a fall if it should transpire.

Submitted by Kevin Grant
PromaxAccess.com

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

BLACK FRIDAY: IS IT WORTH IT?

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays:  a special day set aside for families to be together, spend time sharing and making memories:  eating too much food, and maybe watching too much football.  It seems that this holiday almost gets ignored, except by those who enjoy this tradition with family and friends. 

As soon as the Halloween masks, costumes, and decorations are removed, here come all the Christmas products.  What happened to Thanksgiving?  Sorry, this article isn’t about how I feel about this holiday; rather, it is about an ongoing topic that comes the day after Thanksgiving: Black Friday!  Now, surprise:  spoiling the Black Friday plan is the fact that many of the popular retailers are planning to open on Thanksgiving Day for certain hours, carrying their sales on through Black Friday.  It would be nice if their workers could  have some time off to spend with their families on the holiday.

This is a shopper’s dream: having November 28th, (Thanksgiving Day), plus Black Friday to fill their holiday stockings and purchase gifts at special prices.  Retailers know that they always have to be ready to manage crowds for Black Friday; because this will probably remain the least safe shopping day for customers, here are some tips from OSHA for retailers that hopefully will keep their employees safe from stampeding crowds. 

Five years ago, a Wal-Mart employee died at the opening of a “Black Friday” sale.  OSHA reminds employers that they are responsible for keeping their workplace safe.  Much planning should be done ahead of time, in order for things to go smoothly.  Last week, letters were sent to all firefighters and fire marshals, in addition to retail trade groups and C.E.O.’s of large retail companies from OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor, Dr. David Michaels, who informed them that crowd control and proper planning are critical to prevention of injuries and death.

Death?  We are all aware that money is tight, and everyone wants to cut corners anywhere they can, but is it worth risking life and limb to save a few dollars?  You can read all the instructions that OSHA has in its Fact Sheet about Crowd Safety Management and Safety Guidelines for Retailers.  Here are a few, for instance: 

  • Hire extra workers
  • Ensure that workers are trained to manage the event
  • Designate a worker to contact local emergency responders if necessary
  • Be sure that the building meets public safety requirements
  • Have an emergency plan prepared
  • Set up barricades or rope lines outside the store
  • Barricade lines should have breaks and turns to reduce the risk of customers pushing from the rear and possibly crushing others, including employees
  • Have communications for outside workers
  • Make sure that all employees and crowd control personnel are aware that the doors are about to open (or that the stampede is about to take place!)
  • In emergency situations, have first-aid kits and Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) available and have personnel trained in using AED’s and CPR onsite at all times. 

Good luck –  retailers are counting on you to shop during the beginning of the Christmas season. We are certainly not trying to be “Scrooge” about Black Friday, just wanting to warn you to be ready to battle serious shoppers! 

 In the meantime, have a Happy Thanksgiving! pb

General Safety Issues

DOES YOUR WORKPLACE SAFETY LEADERSHIP NEED AN “ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT?”

Or is it you?  Every business has or should have safety leaders.  Selected employees make up a safety committee.  This is sometimes a group of persons who would rather be anywhere instead of a safety meeting.  It is up to the leader to make this assignment a fun and interesting task, rather than a boring gathering. 

When businesses have a safety leader that is certified in CPR training, and many other facets of safety, one who conducts regular safety drills, this leader is truly interested in getting out the message that the workplace must be safe for all workers.  Safety leadership and employee interaction equal success in employee safety.  Inspired leaders can take the company unit or team to the next level of performance.  It is important that department managers or assigned employees share responsibilities and answer to their safety manager. 

According to the National Safety Council, 25 per cent of all emergency room visits can be avoided if someone knows basic first aid and CPR; 13 per cent of workplace deaths are from sudden cardiac arrests, and for every $1 invested in first aid training and wellness programs, health care costs may be reduced by $3.84 and lower absenteeism costs by $5.82.  Having these skills may enable an employee to save a co-worker’s life. 

Businesses must plan and train for emergencies, regardless if it is a natural disaster, criminal act, fire, or other life-threatening event.  Have your plan in place; your employees should be included in the planning phase, and the entire workforce should know the plan, where exits are, where to report if possible, and other actions they should take.  Having random fire drills and emergency situation drills can play a part in the success of being prepared.  Ensuring that your leader and your employees are on the same page will promote a positive reaction.  

Professional safety leaders are educated in every facet of workplace safety; some in specialized fields.  They know how to train workers to keep the workplace safe, and  make it more of a challenge for workers.  

Suggestion: A safety leader could get permission from the administration and employees to make a training video, featuring the employees performing their every day responsibilities.  It is amusing how persons show more interest when they see how they function in the workplace.  Humor could be added to make it even more fun. (Maybe a “staged” accident!) 

Never take  safety responsibilities for granted; your leaders should instill a positive attitude and make each worker proud to do their part in keeping their Number One priority, going home from work safe every day.

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY – HAS IT IMPROVED? (GUEST POST)

The construction industry has been under close speculation over the past 10 years, more so than any other industry, due to the high number of workplace fatalities and serious injuries. But has this close watch and the ever tightening reigns on regulations had any effect on the construction fatalities?

The latest figures released by the HSE for 2011/2012 show 49 people were killed within this period, the statistics falling only by 1 from 2010/2011, although this is a vast improvement on the figures ten years previous, with 105 workplace deaths within the construction industry in 2000/2001.

There are vast signs of improvement for the number of workplace deaths, however the construction industry still holds the highest number of deaths above all other sectors; with 33 deaths in agricultural and only 5 in the waste industry (2012).

It is the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) who govern the legislation to prevent work place injuries and fatalities, and they have worked hard over the past 10 years to bring down the numbers within construction.

One piece of legislation that has had a massive impact on the way health and safety is carried out on construction projects is the revision to the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2007. The original CDM regulations were introduced in 1994, however were revised in 2007 to ‘make it easier for those involved with construction projects to comply with their health and safety duties.’ – cdm-regulations-uk

The HSE stresses that the regulations were brought in; not to create more paperwork but to place emphasis on management and planning to help reduce the number of fatalities and serious workplace injuries within construction.

Under the revised Regulations the responsibilities are now placed on all those who are involved with the planning and implementation of the construction project. Mainly; duties are placed on the client, the designers and contractors, with more authority given to the CDM coordinator. It is hoped by placing more responsibility and liability on each of these roles that each will conform to the safety standard, to avoid the serious penalties, and thus reducing the number of work place deaths.

The HSE hopes to continue to bring the number of fatalities down within the construction industry over the next few years, by policing projects in accordance with the CDM Regulations, penalizing those who are not complying and rewarding those who are.

This has meant a complete overhaul in the way many companies carry out their projects and site work. CDM management is becoming an industry norm, rather than considered additional paperwork.

Companies are now adding CDM management in to the running of their day-to-day business, ‘our machinery installation and plant and equipment removal services vary from a single plant installation or 1 day lifting programme through to a complete CDM managed industrial site relocation.’ – ainscoughvanguard.co.uk  

It’s fair to say, safety within the construction industry has improved drastically over the past ten years; however the number of deaths within the industry is still not acceptable, especially in comparison with alternative sectors. In the future the HSE, clients, designers, contractors and CDM coordinators are going to have to work together to help reduce these numbers to zero.

About the Author:

Michael Carr can be found at https://plus.google.com/111142938178449829465/posts?hl=en-GB&partnerid=gplp0

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Safety

HOME DEMO SAFETY TIPS FROM AN INDUSTRIAL DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR (GUEST POST)

Safety is the first priority of any industrial demolition contractor. When a project is safe, employees are happier and the work finishes on time. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets safety regulations for demolition contractors for a reason – the work is risky. With this in mind, homeowners should also keep safety in mind when embarking on a demolition, remodeling or building project.  

Look for environmental hazards. Some construction materials contain toxins such as mold, formaldehyde, lead or asbestos. If you’re not sure what went into the building materials you’re demolishing, hire a professional to figure this out. If there are toxins in the environment, let the pros handle it. 

Analyze the materials. A sledge hammer isn’t the go-to tool for every type of building material. Before starting a project, analyze the materials so you can pinpoint the right demolition tools. 

Make a plan. If there aren’t any hazardous materials in your home, plan to work from the top down. In your plan, include a safety checklist with items like sealing off the area, shutting off the utilities, where to place chutes and so on.   

Prevent fall hazards. If you are ever going to be four feet or more off the ground, implement these fall protection measures: 

  • Install stair rails, handrails and guardrails.
  • Cover holes will floor boards or toe-boards.
  • Keep the floors dry.
  • Use a harness and lines whenever you’re four feet or more off the ground.
  • Learn how to use a ladder safely. (A ladder is one of the most deadly items on a demolition site.) 

Demolition Tools  

Pry bars: Use a pry bar to pull out nails, remove tiles and loosen flooring. If you need something stronger to loosen flooring, give a San Angelo bar a try. 

Hammers: A standard claw hammer is great for removing nails and making small holes in drywall. Use a mini-sledgehammer for tougher tasks, like removing interior framing and wood support beams. Reserve the full-size sledge hammer for materials like bricks or concrete. As you work with nails, take the time to knock them flat so they don’t end up lodged in a foot – or better yet, keep the area clean so you don’t step on piles of debris. 

Excavators: Excavators can increase the efficiency of your project when an experienced operator is in the driver’s seat.

Demolition Safety Equipment & Best Practices 

Spend a little money and save a lot – including your life – with PPE personal protective equipment and other safety materials. You should also consider implementing the demolition best practices below. Recommended safety equipment includes: 

  • Safety glasses
  • Hard hat
  • Work gloves
  • Ear protection
  • Respirators or dust masks
  • Shatterproof goggles
  • Steel-toed boots or boots with shanks in the soles
  • Harness for work on the roof or around open holes
  • Electrical tester (to make sure power lines are dead)
  • Fire hose
  • First aid kit
  • Safety buddy 

Put safety first. Always use safety gear, and inspect it prior to starting work. 

Obtain permits. Before your project, verify whether you need a demolition permit. 

Handle hazardous materials wisely. The EPA has standards for handling environmental hazards. Work with a licensed company to remove them from your site. 

Be a good neighbor. As you work, be mindful of noise levels, dust levels and the debris produced. 

Consider a green demolition. Divert what you can from the landfill by salvaging usable building materials and reusing or donating them. Recycle what you can, and sell scrap metal to recoup some of your costs 

Demolition is all about forethought and logic. Never hesitate to talk to a demolition contractor if you have any questions or safety concerns about your project. 

Elder Demolition, a fully licensed demolition contractor located in Portland, Oregon, has provided safe, top-notch demolition services throughout the western United States since 1997. Elder Demolition

General Safety Issues

HOW TO MAKE TRIPS SAFE FOR YOUR CHILDREN (GUEST POST)

When summer comes people start planning to camp outside with the entire family. Many parents are in dilemma thinking about the kids. Well, that is the problem with no problem actually. It is true that camping or travelling with the family is fun at any age but there should always be the first place for the children, and it has to be when they are little. Plus, such experiences are good ways to keep the family relieved from the daily routine and its stresses. So, there is nothing to worry about if the preparations are made wisely.

Planning and Playing It Out First

Planning out any trip, with or without the children, is certainly the first step to go through. If the trip includes camping, make sure to invest in camps that are just suitable for your family and its members, rather than listening to anyone else. If it is camping outside, children should be taught how to stay and sleep inside tents first. It can be turned into a play by putting up a tent in the backyard and letting the whole family stay there for nights to have fun with lessons. Teaching children how to keep their things organized in camps is also the necessary thing to be done.

Taking All the Safety Measures

Camping and outdoor trips may often include things that children do not usually come across in their day-to-day lives. For instance, the idea of how the fire is lit and what to do around it can be gotten during the trip. Still, kids should be taught to basic safety rules. Tips like keeping a bucket of water near the fire ring, as well as not going anywhere or eating anything unknown are to be imprinted in their minds.

Being Prepared for Any Accidents

Of course, parents will be cautious all the time to keep their children out of danger, but accidents are something that happens unexpectedly. So, besides not letting the children go out of sight, parents should ensure that all kids have their own flashlights and whistles. The code for help using whistles is three blows and it is universally accepted. Besides these precautions, there should always be a first-aid kit of the visiting family’s own to be used for injuries. Never take minor cuts and wounds lightly since out in the forest or in the mountains it can be even life threatening.

Making Sure They Learn From It

A trip is all about fun but it should provide children with some valuable lessons about life, nature, doing things by their own. Since it is an extra-ordinary situation, things learned from such trips exist forever. From keeping things tidy to collecting firewood, cooking and cleaning outside to keeping a journal to learning to cope with the nature – all these skills  are no way to be learned within any urban setting. So, parents can make trips both safe and interesting for the kids so that they will cherish memories about them forever.

Post by Linda Waters. Blogger, marketing executive at mspy.fr. Writes on cutting-edge mobile apps, cell phone tracking software and their benefits for families and businesses.

General Safety Issues

TEN PRACTICAL LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE LITTLE RED HEN (GUEST POST)

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Sent by Carol Watson, of NationalNannies.com

The story of the Little Red Hen has been told for ages to teach young people basic moral values. Using farm animals for the characters makes it interesting and fun for children, and stimulates their imaginations as they learn some important life lessons. Even though this folk tale has been passed down for generations, its message is timeless. We can all relate to these ten  practical lessons learned from the Little Red Hen.

  1. Thrift – The story begins with the Little Red Hen finding some discarded grain seeds. Nobody else saw the value of these seeds, but she knew they had potential. The thrifty hen knows better than to let her fortunate find go to waste.
  2. Initiative – Nobody had to tell the hen what to do with the grain seeds. She took the initiative to pick up the seeds and take advantage of her good fortune. People can learn a lesson from her initiative instead of waiting to be told what to do.
  3. Plan ahead – The Little Red Hen could see the future potential of those seeds if they were planted and harvested. Instead of just focusing on the present, she could plan ahead to improve her situation.
  4. Work hard – The hen wasn’t afraid of hard work even if nobody else on the farm would help her. She knew that her labor would pay off in the end and didn’t hesitate to get busy. Kids can learn how important it is to work hard if they want to succeed.
  5. Self reliance – The Little Red Hen didn’t count on anyone else to help her out even though she asked. When the other farm animals refused to help she just went ahead and did all the work on her own. This story has the practical lesson of self reliance that is important for young people to learn.
  6. Basic skills – Apparently the other animals on the farm didn’t have the basic skills required to plant, harvest and mill the grain into flour needed to make bread. Only the hen had the knowhow that she probably learned from observing the workings of the farm.
  7. Persistence – At every stage of the project, the Little Red Hen didn’t give up. Even though she didn’t have any help and the work was hard, her persistence and perseverance paid off in the end.
  8. Ignore naysayers – The other farm animals surely told the hen she was crazy to do all that hard work while they were lazing about and having fun. It’s important for kids to learn to ignore the naysayers while doing the right thing.
  9. Rewards – Of course the most practical lesson is that the initiative and hard work paid great rewards in the end. The Little Red Hen had some delicious bread to eat and share with her family while the other animals had nothing.
  10. Fairness – And finally, the animals who didn’t share in the work didn’t earn any of the bread. This is probably the most important lesson of all in today’s society. With all the talk of fairness, the other farm animals really did get their “fair share”. The Little Red Hen had every right to keep the fruits of her labor and not share it with anyone who didn’t help.

With today’s entitlement society the story of the Little Red Hen should be revived and told more often. So many people have come to expect the government or someone else to provide for them. They envy the wealth of others even though they did nothing themselves to earn it. Those who have worked hard and achieved success have every right to keep what they’ve earned and should not feel obligated to share it with those who aren’t willing to capitalize on their own abilities. People would be well advised to take a page out of this timeless tale and apply it to their own lives. These are some valuable practical lessons that everyone should learn to achieve their own success.

Thank you, Carol, for reminding us that children’s stories such as The Little Red Hen, passed down  through the years,  continues to teach an important lesson about hard work.  Pat

P.S. I’ll bet that little hen was so smart, if she’d had access to Safety Protective Equipment, she’d have used that, too, to stay safe while she worked so hard!

General Safety Issues

WAREHOUSE SAFETY & FIRE PROTECTION (Guest Post)

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Understanding and applying proper warehouse fire protection and safety procedures means having the right amount of protection for workers and company assets, as well as providing safety training regularly. Too little protection can mean a catastrophic loss of property or goods and putting employees in danger. Going too far, however, could create an aura of fear and hinder employees’ job performance. 

How do I know what I need? 

Become familiar with the local fire codes and then hire a professional who can audit your facility and tell you what you need to add or replace. This task cannot be done with just a little research. Codes can seem vague or use draconian language, making it difficult for you to casually read. Find a specialist with a background in your industry so they can make recommendations based on the codes that apply to you.

What kinds of requirements do I have to follow?

Specific requirements are spelled out in your local codes. There are a few requirements for any warehouse: 

  • Warehouses of all sizes must have an automated sprinkler system.
  • There is a minimum space required between storage (e.g., pallets) and sprinklers.
  • Aisles that result in a dead end at a wall have a maximum length.
  • For material stored in unconfined piles, there must be an aisle every few feet.
  • Restrictions about smoking, including designated locations and signage.
  • Propane fuel tanks and aerosol containers must meet specific requirements.
  • Plastics have many storage and packaging requirements.
  • Anything that falls into the hazardous material category (e.g., gasses, explosives, flammable liquids) have substantial storage and fire protection requirements. 

What is the purpose of fire codes and requirements?

Fire codes have evolved over time and are designed to help businesses prevent fires and, in the event of a fire, contain it until it can be safely extinguished. These rules minimize property losses and prevent injuries. The better the prevention, the better the chance of minimizing any fire damage. 

How do I protect workers? 

Fire inspectors look for hazardous situations that affect the workers as much as the merchandise. Some things an inspector looks for during a fire inspection include: 

  • Aisles and doors that are blocked, preventing people from escaping
  • Sprinkler systems that do not work
  • Missing or inoperative fire extinguishers
  • Emergency lights or signs that are missing or not working
  • Overloaded or otherwise unsafe electrical wiring or extension cords

When properly addressed, precautionary measures can prevent injury and fatalities in the event of a fire.

An organized approach to fire protection and prevention

A good model for maintaining a high level of protection in the warehouse is to adopt the 5S approach: 

  • Sort – Sort through everything. Keep only what is needed and get rid of the rest.
  • Set – Set up an appropriate place for everything and keep it there.
  • Shine – Do proper maintenance and cleaning in the warehouse and on equipment.
  • Standardize – Create standard procedures and educate workers about their use.
  • Sustain – Evaluate each of the above steps and make changes to improve the process. 

Don’t just follow the rules 

Passing fire inspections and keeping your facilities up to code will not completely erase the potential for a fire. Don’t assume that your warehouse and your workers are safe; instead, be proactive. Schedule regular drills and inspections and keep track of all safety measures, making sure to replace safety hardware when it’s nearing the end of its useful life. Remain dedicated to fire safety to prevent your company from becoming another statistic. 

Jessica is a freelance blogger and an admin for Instructions Optional. Her interest for construction and large scale projects has stemmed from DIY and home improvement projects as well as working for a commercial water damage restoration company. She enjoys learning about worksite safety and keeping up with the industry on Twitter (@jessstark9).

General Safety Issues

HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVICE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT (GUEST POST)

There is an inherent level of anxiety when working at height, but provided we take the appropriate safety measures before we embark, the risk can be just the same as working on ground level. I will attempt to outline some key points in staying safe and worry free when working on elevated platforms.

The first element is planning. Let’s look at our operators. Are they competent to operate the Mobile Elevating Work Platforms in the working conditions to which they are exposed? Have they been instructed of the local hazards and site rules? Have they attended a basic MEWP training course? Finally, do they have a level of familiarity with the particular make and model of MEWP that they are authorized to operate? Ensure that distractions for the operator are minimized and potential personal methods for distraction are removed such as phones, devices etc.

Next, and most importantly is performing a risk assessment on the site of the job for the MEWP. Look around for typical hazards that might be present for example; uneven ground, overhead obstructions and objects in the path of the MEWP. A risk assessment must be recorded before proceeding to the next phase for purposes of accountability.

Next, we must ensure that we have selected the correct MEWP, with the right operating characteristics of the job, to reduce the risk of entrapment. This may be a good phase to ask for advice and thoughts from competent operators on which would be the most appropriate. Take into consideration vertical lift, articulated boom and telescopic boom MEWPs to allow a wide variety of different platform movements to be utilized. Factor trapping risks into your assessment of which model to use.

Thirdly we must devise a safe system of work, to ensure that our operators will carry out the tasks safely. Referring to the risk assessment we produced earlier we must make sure all persons involved in the planning and management of work tasks completely understand the safety procedure that we have produced. This procedure must communicate and identify the hazards we looked at earlier and ways to control their risk.

Finally, let’s look at your emergency plan and drills.  It is a legal requirement to plan for this when anyone is working at height. Swift rescue of someone who has become trapped makes a significant difference to the injuries potentially sustained, or the difference between a survivable or fatal injury. Ensure there is always someone on ground level to keep an eye on and intervene in an emergency while a MEWP is in use.  This person should wear a Safety Vests with reflective stripes and the proper P.P.E. required to keep him/her safe and in constant contact with the operator.

Do you have a rescue plan that everyone is familiar with? Panic is natural in such a situation, and having a plan that everyone understands can prevent disaster and eliminate complacence when every second counts.  The location of the emergency MEWP controls for a descent should be communicated in addition, they are specific to individual machines and their location is outlined in the unit’s operational manual. Conduct regular drills and develop a level of competency with the ground and emergency controls for each machine in use.

Following the advice outlined above while adhering to health & safety regulations and legal requirements when operating MEWP drastically reduces risk of injury in the workplace. Something Kevin has been promoting for years in his current job at Promax access, where he oversees specialist access platforms training.

Kevin, thank you very much for this informative article.  Anyone who works with this equipment will appreciate the good advice.  Operators must be trained and highly skilled for this type of work. pb

 

 

 

 

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, Hand Protection, Head Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing

DO EMPLOYEES KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT?

Many employees are not trained properly in the use, care and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE).  Companies are required to furnish the type of PPE that is based on the potential hazards of each particular job.  Many workers are required to wear several types of PPE at the same time, such as construction workers, who must wear protective footwear, gloves, safety glasses, and hardhats.   Research has found that some workers have a rather cavalier attitude toward protective clothing, but that little was being done in terms of training or education to correct this situation.  During this research, some health and safety managers interviewed admitted to a lack of knowledge about different PPE product specifications and which clothing is the most suitable for their workplace. 

Anyone who must wear PPE will tell you that the choices made for their particular needs should fit well and be comfortable.  Some say that the PPE hinders their ability to do their job.  They explain that they would prefer to have clothing that is stylish and functional.  If the safety advisors include the workers in the choices they make, whether it is to protect from fire to freezing cold temperatures, working in areas with poor visibility, or handling of hazardous materials, chances are the results will be a more respectful attitude toward compliance. 

Safety officials of companies may confer with various suppliers and manufacturers to work out which types of clothing and particular products will be most suitable.  Products must meet the standards that are set by OSHA, ANSI, or other countries’ minimum health and safety requirements.  For workers who must wear more than one type of protective clothing, the different types of work wear must be compatible.  Many factors must be considered, such as, will the clothing get tangled up in equipment, (i.e., gloves that are too large), or does it increase slips and falls (wrong foot protection)?  

Safety glasses that are offered now are stylish; some of them look better and cost less than those purchased at an optical shop.  (And safer, too!)  All types are offered – from goggles to those with UV protection, wrap-around, over-the-glasses, to readers.  If companies don’t require a company logo on their hardhats, team hard hats or patriotic ones improve worker morale and compliance, by allowing them to show their support for their favorite team, be it NHL, NCAA, NFL, NBA, NASCAR, or MLB.  There are work gloves especially designed for women’s smaller hands, and they even come in “cool pink!”  Many jobs require PPE that is not as flashy as other types, but the main thing is that they fit the bill for the task at hand. 

Training employees on the correct use of their PPE, how to wear it, and care for it, and know when to replace it, is one of the most important ways a company can protect their employees.  It may not take a rocket scientist to figure some of it out, but when there’s doubt about PPE, there should be someone who can explain why they are required to wear it and how important it is to be worn during the entire work period.