| Most of the time, it is not the workers' fault at all. | | | | questions is to have a team conduct a hazard |
| Would anyone in his or her right mind walk into | | | | analysis and risk assessment of the workplace. |
| harm's way unprotected? However, there are | | | | 2. Know that overprotection is not the answer. |
| many cases where the protective gear worn by | | | | As mentioned above, many employers believe |
| people in industrial worksites serves more as an | | | | that throwing a full body suit at their employees |
| impediment to the performance of tasks rather | | | | for them to wear at work is enough of an |
| than as protection. Inasmuch as employees in | | | | answer to the need to provide protection at the |
| such workplaces need to be protected, they | | | | workplace. Unfortunately, this is never true. Many |
| should feel comfortable in what they are wearing | | | | employees end up refusing to wear it or |
| as well. | | | | modifying the protective clothing issued to them |
| It is the employers' responsibility to find the | | | | to make them more comfortable. Rather than |
| appropriate protective clothing that will not only | | | | achieve the goal of keeping workers safe with full |
| provide ample protection for their employees but | | | | body suits, it instead goes the other way and |
| also allow them to work in comfort. But many | | | | compromises safety in the workplace. |
| employers put their faith in the so-called fact that | | | | 3. Consider employee comfort. When all the |
| full overalls are more than enough. There is, after | | | | conditions in the workplace have been considered, |
| all, such a thing called overprotection, and that can | | | | an employer can assess correctly exactly what |
| be as dangerous as inadequate protection. | | | | kind of protective clothing is necessary at the |
| How can employers choose the right protective | | | | workplace. For example, if only minimal splashing is |
| clothing for their employees who work in | | | | expected in the chemical lab, maybe protective |
| hazardous conditions? There are a number of | | | | gloves, sleeves and a special apron are necessary |
| standards that need to be followed, but these | | | | instead of a full body suit. The employees working |
| three tips are the simplest to remember. | | | | at the lab can work in comfort, without their |
| 1. Assess the conditions in your workplace. What | | | | protective clothing hampering their performance. |
| kind of conditions do one's employees have to | | | | It is all too easy to issue full body suits as |
| face in doing their day-to-day tasks at work? Are | | | | protective clothing for one's employees working in |
| they exposed to extreme temperatures? Do | | | | a hazardous industrial work setting. But it is also |
| they dip their hands in chemicals or can they just | | | | far too easy to defeat the purpose of such |
| expect a splash or two? Is the place | | | | clothing when workers' comfort and performance |
| well-ventilated? The best way to answer these | | | | is put at stake. |