Understanding Personal Protective Equipment
PPE doesn’t start and end with protection against viral outbreaks. All types of workers from different sectors of industry require personal protective equipment.
When you work on a construction site, you require a hard hat to make sure you protect yourself from falling objects. When you work in a kitchen, you need aprons to protect both yourself and the food you prepare. PPE covers every area of industry because every worker has safety needs. Every employer has a legal obligation to provide this PPE – or risk a lawsuit down the line because they neglected it.
Put simply: you cannot afford to skip out on PPE as an employer. The above infographic shows you all the various kinds of PPE that you might need to provide for your staff. Let’s look at each point in greater detail.
PPE for the Body
PPE covers your body but changes depending on the job you do. All body PPE includes the following examples.
High Vis Workwear
High visibility clothing such as high vis jackets or vests are part of protective equipment. High vis workwear is common in construction, for highway workers, and for council employees.
Hazmat Suits
While PPE might not start and end with viral outbreaks, it does include them. Hazmat suits are non-permeable, which means no tiny particles pass through them.
Other examples of PPE worn on the body include:
- Chef whites
- Aprons worn by cooking, serving, or cleaning staff.
- Scrubs worn by surgeons
PPE for the Limbs
You can also have PPE wear which is specific to your limbs. Let’s look at some examples of employees who need arm and/or leg protection.
Elbow and Knee pads
If you employ bikers, then you may wish to outfit them in elbow or knee pads. Landscapers might benefit from knee pads, too.
Trousers and Long-Sleeves
You can get inserts to protect your legs or shins. Consider a football or rugby player, and how they keep inserts inside their socks to keep them safe.
Other examples of arm and leg PPE in action include:
- Electrician’s jackets include thick sleeves to minimise risk of electrocution
- Telephone line technicians have thicker trousers for their work in telephone poles and floor level switchboards
- Any worker who has a risk of amputation must wear protective wrist, arm, ankle, or leg PPE
PPE for the Hands and Feet
PPE for the hands and feet covers things like latex gloves and steel toed boots. The examples in the infographic include the following.
Gloves or Disposable Gloves
Not all glove based PPE is disposable. For example, freezer workers in supermarkets wear tough gloves to protect their fingers from cold.
Appropriate Footwear
Wearing the correct footwear can save your employee’s their toes. Steel toe caps and essential for hotel and construction workers. Some workers require longer boots.
Other examples of PPE for the hands and feet include:
- Heat resistant gloves for ceramics workers
- Soft shoes for workers who walk long distances
- Leather gloves for rangers
PPE for the Head and Face
The head and face areas have the most potential for PPE workwear. Here are some common types.
Earplugs and Muffs
Protect employees hearing in nightclubs or on runways.
Hard Hats and Bump Caps
Hard hats protect construction workers from falling objects. Bump caps protect them from stable objects.
Eye Protection
Eye protection includes things like safety goggles, face shields, and even spectacles. Anyone cutting rocks or working with bodily fluids requires eye protection.
Mouth, Nose, Throat and Lung PPE
Again, masks prevent viral spread, but they are not the only type of mask. You might require ventilation equipment for those working with brick dust. You might need dust masks or nose clips.
Other examples of PPE for the head and face include:
- Divers require breathing apparatus
- Hair nets for cooks
- Disposable hats for nurses