Protective Equipment is Critical to Worker Safety

Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2019

But most injuries are preventable. Employers are responsible for the safety of all workers. Failure to take this responsibility seriously can result in severe sanctions by government regulators, increased workers' compensation premiums and potential civil liability.

While the risk of employee injury can never be completely eliminated, it can be minimized by smart planning, adequate resourcing and strong leadership at all levels.

Employer Responsibilities

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers are at minimum responsible for the following:

Performing a thorough hazard assessment of the workplace.
Identifying the proper protective personal equipment (PPE) for each workstation or work area.
Training and enforcing the proper use of equipment.
Maintaining, inspecting, or replacing worn out or unserviceable PPE when needed.
Keeping records and updating the effectiveness of your organization's PPE program.

Examples of Protective Equipment

PPE includes any items of clothing or accessories specifically designed to help protect workers against workplace hazards. Some examples are protective goggles, respirators, particle masks, aprons, helmets and hard hats, fall protection harnesses, boots, aprons, gloves and mitts, and even full body suits. Employers are responsible for providing PPE to all employees. Contractors, on the other hand, are generally expected to have their own PPE.

Employers should familiarize themselves with the risks associated with their processes and machinery and ensure that the equipment provided is adequate. For example, if chemicals are a hazard, protective gloves and other gear should be designed to safely withstand exposure.

Employers should also consider the context: Is the glove appropriate for the use? Do they take into account the grip needed? Do they need to be slip-resistant? Do they need to protect against heat, or do they also need to protect your workers against electric shock, static electricity build-up or caustic alkalis and solvents?

Another common example is hard hat selection. Workplaces should select a hard hat only after a thorough examination of the potential risks. The risk assessment provides employers with the critical requirements that make it possible to select an appropriate hard hat.

There are three classes of hard hat:

Class A provides impact penetration and resistance but only protects against about 2,200 volts of electricity,
Class B provides shock and burn protection up to 20,000 volts, as well as substantial protection against falling objects and impacts, and
Class C are lightweight and comfortable hard hats but do not provide protection against electrical hazards.

PPE should also be compliant with American National Safety Institute (ANSI) standards. The Institute has been developing safety protocols since the 1920s.

Best Practices

Here are some points to consider for minimizing risk and helping keep your workforce safe and your policies in compliance.

Conduct regular inspections and start an ongoing industrial hygiene monitoring program to make sure your engineering controls are effective.
Constantly check to ensure that your work practices and administrative controls are being run properly and energetically enforced by your first-line supervisors.
Establish a rigorous system to ensure that your PPE and other equipment is properly inspected and maintained.
Remember that PPE is the last line of worker defense. In addition to PPE, emphasize engineering solutions, such as substituting or eliminating hazardous substances and materials, for example, and administrative controls designed to prevent unnecessary exposure to hazards.

Resources for Employers

Employers looking for more information can download the publication "OSHA Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines" at: https://www.osha.gov/shpmguidelines/SHPM_guidelines.pdf, which provides much more detail on how to manage and implement a successful PPE and workplace safety program.

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