Course Duration: 30 Minutes

Burnt Mountain LLC. Learning Management System (BMLMS)

PPE Definition and Meaning

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is clothing or equipment designed to reduce employee exposure to chemical, biological, and physical hazards when on a worksite. It is used to protect employees when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible to reduce the risks to acceptable levels.

Importance of PPE

According to the hierarchy of controls by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), PPE is recommended to be the last level of defense to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Here are some benefits of using PPEs:

• Prevent unnecessary injury in the workplace
• Protect employees from excessive chemical exposure
• Improve employee productivity and efficiency.

The 4 Basic Types

However, even the strictest controls will not necessarily eliminate all the risks associated with most job tasks and this is where the need for PPE must be evaluated. A hazard assessment can help identify which specialized PPE will be required. There are numerous types of workplace safety equipment available depending on the hazard exposure and work conditions. The following are basic PPE that can help protect employees:

Safety Tips:

• Check if safety glasses comply with the ANSI Z87.1 eye protection standard.
• Ensure that there are no cracks or deformities on the lenses.

Respiratory Protection

PPE includes full-face respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, N95 respirators, and surgical masks that are used for a task that can cause inhalation of harmful materials to enter the body.

Safety Tips:

• Replace disposable respirators with every use.
• Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or soiled.
• Avoid touching the surgical mask after wearing it.
• Change surgical mask timely and dispose of after one day use.
• Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or soiled.

Skin and Body Protection

PPE includes the following categories to protect employees from physical hazards:

Hands Protection

• PPE includes safety gloves and should be used for tasks that can cause hand and skin burns, absorption of harmful substances, cuts, fractures or amputations.
• Safety Tips:
• Ensure hand protection fits perfectly with no spaces and is free from cuts, burns and chemical residue.
• Always replace them if any sign of contamination is observed.
• Use rubber gloves when working with electricity to reduce the risk of burn or electrical shock.

Fall Protection

• PPE includes safety harnesses and lanyards and should be strictly used for tasks that can cause falling from heights and serious injury or death.
• Safety Tips:
• Ensure that the straps are free from tears, deformities and burn marks.
• Check the buckles if connected securely and tightly.
• Dispose of the equipment if used after a falling incident.

Hearing Protection

• PPE includes ear muffs and plugs and should be used for tasks that can cause hearing problems and loss of hearing. All areas of the factory produce noise at levels that require hearing protection. All employees must wear hearing protection while working on the factory floors. Any areas that may be exempt from this expectation will be marked as such with signage.
• It is important to note that noise cancelling headphones are not allowed to be used as hearing protection at work for one simple reason, it is illegal for the Company to permit it.
• Safety Tips:
• Ensure the equipment fits the ear canal perfectly.
• It is recommended to use formable earplugs to fit on different sizes of ear canals.
• Ensure earplugs are clean and in good condition.