How PPE could save your life
Although personal protective equipment is not your first line of defence against construction hazards, it is still important because when an accident does occur it is usually your personal protective equipment that will save your life.
Personal protective equipment or PPE is any barrier worn to reduce exposure to hazards or injuries.
Most often PPE cannot prevent an accident from taking place but it does reduce the damage done to your body by the accident which is why they should never be underestimated.
Even where engineering controls and safe systems of work have been applied on a construction site, some hazards might remain which could cause injuries to
the lungs, such as from breathing in contaminated air
the head and feet, for example from falling materials
the eyes, from flying particles or splashes of corrosive liquids
the skin, from contact with corrosive materials for example
the body, from extremes of heat or cold as well as other circumstance.
That is why PPE is needed in these cases to reduce the risk and minimise the effect on the worker.
According to the law employers have a responsibility to ensure their employees are provided with a safe work environment and safe system of work, this includes providing them with the necessary PPE applicable to their jobs, free of charge. It also entails providing them with the appropriate training to ensure that they are utilising the PPE in the correct way in order for it to be effective in preventing injury or even death.
Selecting the appropriate PPE for a job, wearing PPE correctly, and properly maintaining PPE are vital to keeping employees safe from workplace hazards.
When considering who needs what PPE ask the following questions:
Who is exposed and to what?
How long are they exposed for?
How much are they exposed to?
It is important to remember that many injuries occur on construction sites every day that could have probably been avoided if the proper precautions were taken, such as wearing the appropriate PPE. One of the key points to remember is to never allow exemptions from wearing PPE, even for those jobs that only takes a short time.
The people who know about personal protective equipment best are the suppliers and manufacturers, so check with them if you are unsure or need advice on the best options etc. Also explain to them the job being undertaken and they will probably advise you on the best PPE for the task.
Also remember that PPE must be properly looked after and stored when not in use to ensure its continued effectiveness. For example store in a clean, dry cupboard. If it is reusable it must be cleaned and kept in good condition.
Certain PPE are mandatory on construction sites and all workers should be supplied with, trained on and supervised to ensure that they are using these PPE at all times and doing so correctly, these include hardhats and steel toed safety boots.
Visit http://www.whitecardonline.com.au/blog/white-card-construction-site-safety-articles/white-card-articles-personal-protective-equipment-on-construction-sites/ for more advice about personal protective equipment.