PPE is an essential factor in protecting employees from work-related accidents and illnesses. Before selecting PPE, all potential workplace hazards must be identified to ensure the correct equipment is selected to protect against them. As a result, the workplace supplies market has never been so in demand. There are a number of websites and resellers of this equipment. More than ever, it is very much in demand for businesses in key industrial sectors. The Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 very much need to be adhered to and they need to be kept in check should you employ key members of staff working in a site-like environment.
PPE in the Workplace
As an employee, you should be fully educated on which equipment is required of which tasks, and what it is meant to protect. If this is not the case, you have every right to flag this up with your employer / place of work and call in the right training to ensure you are able to work in a safer manner. There are no end of training providers able to carry out and deliver this work for your added benefit. Hiring in this training can be seen as a very wise and savvy overall investment to make. It can also ward off further trouble and issues ahead too.
A legal requirement
It is legally required for most industries such as construction, agriculture, and engineering. Protective equipment required by law will differ according to the wearer’s working conditions. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is important that we make the workplace as safe as possible. There should be instructions and procedures in place, and employees should have adequate training and supervision. But even after these safety systems have been applied, some hazards might remain. You can never be too much on top of such hazards but you can at least take some precautions and try to solve these issues.
PPE is the last level of protection in the workplace and they are the kind of workplace supplies you need. The protective equipment forms a final barrier between your employees and the occupational hazards they face daily. It is important you choose the safety and protective wear carefully to safeguard your employees against specific dangers. In addition, train your workers to use their personal protection equipment correctly and teach them how to identify and report any faults.
Eye and Face Protection
Protective eye equipment shields not only the wearer’s eyes, it can also protect their face too. An example of eye and face protection in construction is a face shield which protects you against a variety of hazards. Such as: chemical splashes, dust, gas and even radiation. Different types of eye protection safeguard against different hazards. It is important your choice is suitable for the job role and the type of work you carry out.
Safety gloves – a staple item in a workplace
According to the HSE, there has been an increase in incidences of contact dermatitis in construction workers. In addition, carpal tunnel syndrome can also affect construction workers. Personal protective equipment gloves will safeguard your employees’ hands and arms from: abrasions, extreme temperatures, cuts, punctures, electric shocks, chemicals, vibrations and more. Different gloves offer varying levels of personal protection. You need to consider the hazards in your workplace to make a suitable choice.
Keeping your workers more protected once and for all
PPE is essential to protect your staff from occupational hazards in the workplace. However, we should only use it as a last resort. Supplying protective equipment is one step towards safeguarding your employees, but it is no substitute for a safe working environment. The first step to safety is to conduct a full risk assessment to identify any dangerous practices. From there, you can make changes for a safer environment. With this in mind, PPE remains the last line of defence, not the first.
Remember – it prevents you from being liable for your own injuries
One common speed bump that workers’ compensation attorneys deal with on the regular is an individual’s decision not to wear PPE, regardless of the fact that they were provided with it by their employer. This often makes the liability for a workplace illness or injury more of a grey area. It varies from case to case, but faithfully using all PPE that you are provided with on the job is the best way to ensure that should an injury or illness directly result, your employer will absorb full liability. Even for those jobs that “only take a few minutes”, you should never allow for exemptions. It is vital you wear the right PPE / workplace supplies. It has to be in check and worn at all times.
There are issues you may run into if you’re not careful
Feeling fine at the end of your shift doesn’t pass for the fact that you’ve properly protected your body. Exposure to different chemicals and compounds on the job can have long-term effects on your body, with mesothelioma being a great example. There are some other sample illnesses you also need to be aware of also when it comes to site work. Much of this comes from the very fact you end up being so exposed to the elements in the great outdoors.
Between 70-80% of these diagnoses were from exposure to asbestos fibers used in the construction of materials in many different industries. Current safety regulations require those who work with asbestos to wear specific PPE, and to shower and change before leaving the workplace. But prior to modern regulation, there was not a connection made between asbestos exposure and cancer diagnosis. Therefore, many of these daily mesothelioma cases were caused at a time before we knew so much about this disease. Workers should take advantage of the medical knowledge. This is in regard to the risk factors that we have today, and use PPE to safeguard their health and well-being, both for now and down the road. This is because you can never be too sure of the risk factors that may follow.
It can really help to improve the quality of your work and day at work
Think of PPE as a support system of sorts for the work your job requires you to do. It may be more physically demanding or slightly more hazardous than your average desk job, but the equipment is provided to make you feel that physical risk is minimal. PPE items such as weight belts offer stability for duties that ask you to perform heavy lifting, and these might be the difference between having to go to work with strained muscles the next day or not. Measures should be taken to prevent basic trip and fall injuries that, on the most simplistic level, just flat out ruin someone’s day. This is where it helps to have a resource in place of the right workplace supplies and equipment in your premises.
Overall – why you should make the investment in this equipment
The investment and correct use of PPE workplace supplies can help avoid and reduce workplace accidents and sickness. Your business will benefit from a reduction in employee sick days and administration time / costs. All of this is thanks to the fact you won’t be recording and reporting illness and accidents. Your organisation will also be complying with your health and safety obligations. This means you’ll be avoiding accidents, HSE investigations, legal costs and compensation payouts. Additionally, looking after the health, safety, and welfare of your employees will promote a happy workforce. It will also boost productivity and your business reputation. Finally, the initial cost of purchasing PPE and workplace supplies is quickly covered. This is thanks largely to the cost saving in the reduction in staff sickness, absence, and staff attrition.
