Personal Protective Equipment PPE – What is PPE and why is it used?

Every company has a responsibility to protect its workers and there are certain obligations related to the provision, training and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when it is deemed necessary.

PPE is used to protect the user against health or safety risks.

Every year an enormous amount of employees take sick leave due to accidents in the workplace. According to reports from the Labour Force Survey in 2019/20, an estimated 6.3 million working days were lost due to non-fatal workplace injuries .

This is a very high figure that could have been reduced by following safety protocols and using both individual protection and industrial safety equipment appropriately.

The importance of PPE

All companies must provide training and information on the different safety procedures and protocols of a workplace, it is their duty to ensure that they are followed and that employees work safely and responsibly.

If risks at work cannot be eliminated using controls, systems, risk management and industrial safety equipment, PPE is considered necessary. When this is the case, it is a company’s responsibility to provide their employees with PPE .

PPE should be selected carefully based on the following:

- What is the working environment and conditions?

- Who is exposed to risks and what are they?

- How long are they exposed to said risks?

- What is their level of exposure?

It’s very important to make sure that staff are trained to use their personal protective equipment correctly and ensure that they know how to detect and report any faults.

What is PPE?

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) , PPE is defined as:

"Any equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE)."

PPE should always be used by workers as a last barrier of defence. They are safety devices or means to reduce risks and damage that threaten physical wellbeing or health at work.

Visit the HSE for more information about PPE.

Does all PPE provide the same protection?

No, it doesn't! PPE is classified into three categories according to the risks it protects against.

What are the most common types of PPE?

Eye protection

The eyes can be exposed to hazards such as chemical splashes and fumes, biological risks, gas, steam, radiation and projectiles from dust, metals, wood and other particles.

There are many alternatives when it comes to protection, these include safety glasses, protective goggles, over-glasses, face shields, full face masks and visors. They should be of good quality, be comfortable and protect the user from eye-related injuries.

Head protection

Some potential accidents that could cause head related injuries include impacts from slips, trips and falls, motor vehicle accidents, impacts from falling or stationary objects or machinery, hair getting caught in machinery or coming into contact with chemicals, etc.

Industrial safety helmets, hard hats, bump caps and hairnets can help minimise these risks. Some safety helmets incorporate or can be fitted with other types of PPE for additional protection like safety glasses or helmet-mounted ear muffs.

Hearing protection

Both noise level and the duration of exposure are key factors that can cause damage to the auditory system. High noise levels can be dangerous, even for short durations.

There are two main alternatives when considering ear protection, these are ear plugs and ear defenders. It’s important that they reduce noise to an acceptable level, but still allow communication.

Hand protection

In many industries, hands are exposed to a large number of risks and hazards such as extreme temperatures, cuts, punctures, impacts, contact with chemicals, electric shocks, etc.

Some materials are quickly penetrated by certain chemical substances and caution must be taken when selecting the appropriate work gloves.

Here are some of the most common glove materials with their advantages and disadvantages:

Respiratory protection

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) must be used when working in atmospheres with low oxygen or respiratory hazards due to the presence of dust, gases and/or vapours.

There are many types of respiratory masks including reusable and disposable face masks, power-assisted air-purifying and supplied-air respirators, elastomeric half-mask respirators or full-face respirator masks.

Whatever the respiratory protection, it’s essential to ensure that they are certified and fit correctly, they also need to have the correct filter. Each filter protects against a specific range of substances, so choosing an adequate filter based on the risks is vital. They must also be replaced when needed.

Safety Footwear

In some jobs, the feet may be at risk due to wet, hot or cold conditions, electrostatic build-up, the presence of vehicles, slips, trips and falls, cuts and punctures or falling objects.

To minimise the risks, safety boots or shoes with protective toe caps and anti-static, anti-slip, penetration-resistant soles, (among other protective properties) should be worn.

ESD safety shoes are perfect for electric and live work as they are non-conductive.

Choosing the appropriate safety footwear should be done on a case-to-case basis, as with all types of PPE.

Safeguru | Delivering a Safer Future