Personal Protective Equipment and Use

It is important to ensure the correct selection isHand protection should be used where there is an
made in Personal Protective Equipment as not allidentified hazard associated with a potential for
will meet the same performance requirementshand injury.
and provide the same protection. For example,Protective footwear should be worn where the
use of dish washing gloves would not be used innature of the work exposes the employee to a
the handling of gasoline. In choosing Personalmedium to high risk of injury to feet.
Protective Equipment some consideration shouldHigh visibility safety vests should be worn where
be given to durability, permeability, resistance tothere is a risk of injury associated with working
abrasion and burns, insulation, resistance to cuts,on or near roadways or near moving traffic or
clean ability, size, and comfort.moving plant.
Uses for Personal Protective Equipment will include:Any protective equipment provided for use should
Head protection in the form of a safety helmetbe appropriate for the wearer and that it is
shall be worn where, there is a possibility that aappropriate for the risk. Protective equipment
person may be struck on the head by a fallingshould be in a clean and hygienic condition for the
object, a person may strike his/her head againstwearer. This equipment should not be shared
a fixed object, and there also may be accidentalbetween wearers unless the equipment is
head contact with electrical hazards.deemed to be clean. Any protective equipment
Eye protection shall be provided where a risk ofused should be stored and located in an
eye injury exists. Typical hazards might includeappropriate place so that it remains clean and not
flying particles, dust, splashing substances, harmfulexposed to the elements. Any storage areas for
gases, vapors, aerosols, and high intensityprotective equipment should be clearly identified.
radiation from welding operations.To verify that the equipment protects the user, it
Hearing protection shall be provided where a riskshould be manufactured according to the specific
of noise induced hearing loss exists. The need forlocal or national regulations. There should be a
hearing protection shall be assessed from thespecial sticker, label or stamp with the approval on
conduct of noise surveys in potential noise hazardit. The sticker shows the standards logo as well
areas or if you place your outstretched arm on aas quoting the relevant regulations. For legality and
fellow person and speck normally. If they cannotsafety this label should not be removed.
understand what you are saying; hearingThere should be adequate maintenance of the
protection is probably needed.equipment to ensure it controls the risk.
Respiratory protection should be worn if after allMaintenance should include regular inspection
other practicable measures have been taken tobefore each use to determine if the equipment
provide control measures, to ensure that no staffhas sustained any damage and that it will work as
member is exposed to an atmosphere that is orintended. Where the equipment is damaged, so
may be injurious to health.that it may not provide the necessary protection,
Protective clothing and sunscreen should be usedit should be either repaired or disposed of
for staff that are required to work outdoors andappropriately and replaced. Any wearer of the
are exposed to the sun's rays for continuousequipment should be trained in any limitations of
periods in a day. Direct exposure of the skin tothe equipment and the appropriate fitting of the
UV radiation from outdoor work shall beequipment. Instructions should be provided on the
minimized by providing hats, long sleeves/trouserscorrect use of the equipment, maintenance and
and an adequate supply of sunscreen.storage.