5 Things You Need To Know About PPE Gear
PPE is a piece of protective equipment that one wears in situations that pose a danger or hazard. Most dangerous conditions requiring PPE involve an elemental disaster such as fire breakout, flooding, or a sand storm. The history of PPE kits traces back to before the middle ages when plague doctors used protective masks to safeguard themselves from contagious infections. They also used face masks and other types of face shields for activities such as beekeeping. PPE kits are also popular in usage while handling hazardous chemicals. In modern times, PPE has many employees. Here is a brief overview of PPE gear, an indispensable tool in the medical field and modern industries.
What is PPE?
PPE or personal protective equipment refers to a variety of protective materials. PPE also includes two different types of equipment, namely protective clothing and protective gear. The former is common in settings like cleaning, medical purposes, and other activities. Protective gear, on the other hand, is more popular as pads, guards, and shields. It is also helpful in industries, factories, and workshops that have fire or steam hazards. In addition, there are several accessories in a PPE that one can attach to a suit.
Workplace gear
PPE in the workplace protects workers against accidents that may fatally injure one. The situation is especially true in the case of construction workers. Many regulatory bodies recommend that workers use appropriate head protection, frictive footwear, and gloves that offer a firm grip. While these are only the primary protective wear, workers must also wear safety belts and ropes whenever it is necessary. Safety nets, hard hats, and eye-protective gear are also essential PPE while working on a construction site. Since workplace PPE differs from one situation to another, there are many types. Chemical labs require workers to wear fire-repellent lab coats, eye gear, and gloves.
Respiratory PPE
Respiratory PPE is essential for workers involved in chemical testing, mining, and dealing with poisonous gases. Respirators protect the user from harmful contaminants and other bodies in the air. Usually known as masks, they have filters in the center of the respirator. There are two types of filters: active and passive filters. Active filters have an air-purifying mechanism that filters the air through electricity. Passive filters, on the other hand, have multiple layers of fabric that manually filter contaminants. In the medical field, respiratory masks come as surgical masks, N95 masks, and filter masks.
Hearing protective equipment
Miners and construction workers often expose themselves to high decibel noises and loud bangs every day. Hearing PPE or Hearing Protection devices (HPD) reduce the risk of hearing loss for industry workers and people working in factories. They also suffer from eardrum damage and hyperacusis when working in noisy environments for long periods. Such ear damage is easily preventable. Anybody working in factories with loud machinery needs to wear appropriate ear-protection wear. Some hearing PPE include earplugs, earmuffs, and related protective devices. Hearing-related PPE has a noise-canceling mechanism that filters excess noise that can damage one’s eardrums and other internal parts.
Why are PPEs essential?
PPEs are undoubtedly essential for laborers working in high-risk areas. Apart from offering physical protection, it also safeguards workers from lawsuits. PPE reaffirms one’s decision to stay protected in the workplace. Therefore, when a workplace mishap occurs due to poor machinery maintenance or worse working conditions, employers cannot escape liability by citing workers’ lack of attention to safety. PPE gear also guards workers against the long-term effects of exposure to harmful radiation, noise, and chemical reaction. Maximizing the benefits of PPE must be the primary concern of an employer.
5 Things You Need To Know About PPE Gear