When PPE Equipment Is A Danger, Not A Solution

We're all very much aware of the fact that PPE equipment in almost any field of work or industry is an absolute essential, not just in order to comply with current health and safety at work legislation, but also because of the increased danger which is often involved in using more powerful equipment sharper, faster tools, or working in dangerous locations.

As more understanding of risks and how to protect against them is accumulated, so does the variety of ways in which we can protect against them. But the trouble is that whilst we have become more aware of the need to protect against the risks and dangers posed by working with dangerous tools or equipment, and the range of types of PPE equipment has grown massively, so has the challenge of trying to make the right choice every time. Often the right choice isn't necessarily the most obvious one, and there are many factors which need to be considered in order to make the best choice in every situation.

For example, it may be that in many situation high visibility PPE clothing in fluorescent yellow is ideal, helping to make sure that the person is highly visible. But in some situations it may well prove to be the case that anyone wearing yellow is very much less visible than needed. Some environments or weathers make yellow a poor choice, and in these cases fluorescent orange or green may be a better choice. Just because something has the words 'high visibility' stamped on it, or 'safety' written in big, confidence inspiring letters doesn't necessarily mean that it will provide the level of visibility required, or indeed that it will help keep the person safe.

Another potential issue is when combining multiple items of safety equipment at the same time. For example, it may be that if you are required to weld galvanised steel you will be required to wear eye protection, and because of the fact that the fumes resulting from welding galvanised steel are highly toxic, you will usually be required to wear some form of breathing apparatus or respirator. However, whilst each item of PPE equipment may on its own be ideal, highly recommended and provide a decent level of protection, you may find that once you fit the respirator the eye protection no longer fits, or that once you have fitted the eye protection, the breathing apparatus no longer fits snugly over your face.

It is essential therefore not to see each item of personal protective equipment by itself, but as part of a combination of solutions, and within the context of a whole range of situations and environments. This can necessarily inflate the overall cost of having safety equipment, but this is still far less than the cost of providing compensation in the event of an accident, injury or death, or the loss of revenue which the bad publicity is likely to cause.

Another potential problem is in providing safety clothing to people which fits correctly. The safest work gloves in the world may be next to useless if they don't fit properly, and they may even represent an added danger themselves. Loose fitting safety clothing which is too big can easily get caught in machinery, and can reduce a person's dexterity. This may result in an accident which would never otherwise have happened.

So it is true to say that unless PPE equipment and clothing is purchased with these factors in mind, the potential risk or danger may in fact be exacerbated, which is of course the last thing to strive for. If in any doubt then it is important to seek professional and experienced help and advice pertinent to your specific requirements, rather than take a chance and trust too much in the word 'safety' stamped on your PPE equipment.

About the Author

For further advice and information about PPE equipment visit Intersafety, one of the UK's leading independent suppliers of safety equipment, including a wide selection of work gloves.

Factors You Must Not Ignore When Choosing PPE Equipment

It's common enough knowledge that PPE equipment is all about safety, and that employers are legally obliged to provide appropriate PPE equipment to all employees, contractors and visitors where needed. The very letters, 'PP' which stand for personal protection, or protective, suggest that it's all about protecting the individual. But there are three sides to this, and it's important to be aware of the wider picture.

To begin with, not all PPE equipment, such as some work gloves, are about protecting the person wearing them. Secondly, not all work gloves help to reduce the risks involved, and thirdly, not all PPE equipment is appropriate in every case. Unfortunately many people tend to see safety equipment as a black and white subject. The theory often seems to go that if there is a risk, safety equipment will make it better. But knowing that sometimes the risk isn't to the individual, and that sometimes the equipment which seems obvious is not advisable makes the whole subject very grey.

Not only that, but often there are items of safety clothing, such as safety gloves or work gloves, which in spite of the name have nothing to do with safety. So let's dig around briefly in the murky greyness of PPE equipment, in particular work gloves, and understand just what some of the factors are that need to be considered both when purchasing new equipment or clothing and when selecting the best items or combination of items to wear for any particular task.

First of all it's important to be aware that sometimes safety gloves are about the safety of something other than the wearer. There may be cases where sensitive equipment or items might be damaged by being held without some form of barrier or glove protection. People's hands can be dirty, and no matter how hard you try they are always going to be slightly oily. Skin is a living organ, and it needs to be moist. It's impossible to prevent hands from being moist, greasy or oily, and this can easily damage equipment.

Additionally the human body is quite good at building up a static charge, and this can easily be transmitted through physical or close contact with something metallic. This could be a disaster in situations where sensitive electronic equipment is concerned. So in some cases it's important to choose gloves which offer protection from the wearer, not to the wearer, protecting sensitive equipment or materials.

It's also necessary to be aware that not all PPE equipment such as work gloves will reduce the risk. Wearing heavy leather gauntlets which restrict movement, decrease dexterity and eliminate any tactile sensitivity can result in workers becoming clumsy, and this can easily result in an increase of risk. It's always important to consider in which ways safety equipment could reduce performance, accuracy or indeed comfort, since often accidents at work occur when workers remove safety equipment for a while because they are too uncomfortable.

Finally it's important to be aware that sometimes, in spite of the name, work gloves or safety gloves are not about safety, or at least, not exclusively about safety. If workers have to wear gloves all day every day then their comfort must be considered as well as their safety. If hands are covered up all day for hours at a time then this will lead to clammy, uncomfortable hands, reduced blood flow, damage to nerves and possible damage to arteries.

It is now possible to buy work gloves which offer protection only on those parts of the hand most at risk, such as the back of the hand or the wrist, providing minimal covering elsewhere using a lightweight moisture absorbing material such as cotton which allows the hand to breathe. So when choosing PPE equipment, think about more than just the safety of the wearer, consider more than the obvious risks, and consider comfort to be as important a factor as the original risk.

About the Author

For more information about PPE equipment, visit Intersafety, one of the UK's leading independent suppliers of safety equipment, including work gloves.

The Truth About Work Gloves And PPE Equipment

Simply providing employees with work gloves is not enough. It's often assumed by many businesses and employers that simply providing appropriate PPE equipment and clothing, such as work gloves, is all that is required to comply with current regulations governing safety at work, PPE equipment and safety clothing.

However, assuming that provision of the equipment or clothing is all that's required to let the business or employer 'get off the hook' should an accident or injury occur is likely to backfire spectacularly. Because the regulations actually state a good deal more, and it is essential both in terms of compliance with regulations and the fundamental safety and well being of employees that businesses appreciate just how far their responsibilities go, and what it takes to comply with PPE equipment and clothing requirements.

To start with, it is clearly wrong to assume that safety equipment or clothing will last forever. Work gloves for example are likely to wear out quite quickly if they are used for long periods of time every single day. Even the best quality safety gloves will begin to become worn or damaged - but that is after all their purpose, to take the damage so that people's hands don't have to. But if employers simply assume that handing out the gloves and other safety equipment is all that's required, this overlooks the fact that at some point the safety equipment will no longer be safe to use, and will no longer provide the kind of protection that's needed.

In fact in some cases worn or damaged equipment or clothing might not just provide a diminished level of protection, it might also contribute towards a new risk or a heightened risk purely because of the damage. For example, if a glove has become worn or frayed, it might be possible that a piece of lose material catches on a piece of machinery, which could jolt the employee as they try to move, which might result in an accident.

So it is essential that all employers put into place suitable procedures to ensure that all safety equipment and clothing is regularly checked by people who are familiar with what to look for, and that any equipment which is not deemed to be safe or able to meet the required standards is marked accordingly, and placed in a location which will prevent anyone from inadvertently trying to use it. This means that checklists need to be created, standards agreed, routines put into place to ensure that the checks are carried out on a regular basis, a procedure established for recording the results, including removing failed PPE equipment from use, and a means for marking or tagging faulty or damaged equipment easily, and in a way which cannot accidentally be overlooked. This will inevitably require staff to be trained in carrying out these checks.

Additionally it will also be expected of employers to carry out appropriate training, so that all staff are fully aware of what the PPE Equipment is for, and how to select the right item for the right task, such as choosing which type of work gloves to wear when using different types of machinery or tools or working within different environments. This training needs to be carried out on a regular basis to ensure everyone is kept up to date with any new requirements or new equipment, and new employees need to be provided with all appropriate training as soon as possible.

All of these requirements need to be documented and verified so that should an investigation be required or called, the business is able to demonstrate full and absolute compliance with current regulations governing the use of, distribution of and maintenance of all PPE equipment, from work gloves and tabards to safety goggles and hard hats.

About the Author

For more information on work gloves and PPE equipment visit Intersafety, a leading independent safety equipment supplier.