Safety & Security Protective Gear
Importance of Safety Protective Gear
In the whole business and industrial sector, employers and employees are personally responsible for donning the right protective gear for the situation they face. So, it's vital to ensure that the correct selection of personal protective equipment is made. Not all safety equipment will meet the same performance requirements nor will it provide identical or ideal protection. Let me give you an example. Did you know that not one type of glove provides adequate protection against all chemicals? Are you aware that a respirator designed to be effective against medium air levels of a chemical may not be effective against high levels of that very same chemical?
Thing you need to consider when selecting the right personal protective gear
- durability
- permeability
- abrasion resistance
- burn resistance
- insulation
- cut resistance
- size
- comfort
- ability to be cleaned.
Keep in mind that personal protective equipment or gear is designed to accomplish a very specific task. Typically, these jobs or tasks fall into one or several of the following categories:
- Head protection
- Eye protection
- Hearing protection
- Respiratory protection
- Protective clothing and sunscreen
Head protection is most commonly in the form of a safety helmet. These are to be worn anytime there is a possibility that a person may be struck on the head by a falling object. Additionally, a person may strike their head against a fixed object in certain hazardous work sites and a helmet is required. Head contact with electrical hazards is another reason for protective head gear.
Anytime there is a risk of eye injury, eye protection should be provided. Typical eye hazards include flying particles, dust, splashing substances, harmful gases, vapors, aerosols, and high intensity radiation from welding operations.
Hearing protection must be provided where a risk of noise induced hearing loss exists. Noise surveys determine the need and level for hearing protection in potential noise hazard areas. If you can't hear a normal conversation from two feet away then hearing protection is most likely needed.
Respiratory protection is supposed to be provided after all other practicable measures have been taken to ensure that no employee is exposed to an atmosphere that is or may be injurious to health.
Employees and staff who are required to work outdoors and/or are exposed to the sun's rays for continuous periods throughout the day are often provided protective clothing and sunscreen. UV radiation from outdoor work should be minimized by providing hats, long sleeves, trousers, and an adequate supply of sunscreen.
Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia is a great resource on protective gear. To read their article and learn more, click on PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.