As a leader in occupational safety and health, you should be aware of the different elements of personal protection and identify the conditions under which they are required to be used.
The Personal Protective Elements have as main function to protect different parts of the body, to avoid a worker to have direct contact with risk factors that can cause him injury or illness.
Personal Protective Items do not prevent accidents or contact with aggressive elements but help to make injury less serious.
The Personal Protection Elements:
FOR THE HEAD
- Safety helmet: When exposed to electrical hazards and shock.
- Cap: When exposed to moisture or bacteria.
FOR EYES AND FACE
- Safety goggles: When exposed to particle projection in trades such as carpentry or wood carving.
- Safety glasses: When exposed to chemical splashes or in presence of gases, vapors and fumes.
- Safety Mask: Use in jobs that require full face protection such as the use of a polisher, circular saw or when handling chemicals in large quantities.
- Mask or eyewear with eyepiece filter: For protection against sparks, projecting particles and radiation from the welding process.
FOR THE RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT
- Disposable Face Mask: When in an environment there are airborne particles such as cotton or cement dust and other particles derived from polishing of parts.
- Purifying respirator (with filter material or cartridges): When in your environment you have gases, vapors, fumes and mists. Request filter change when you feel penetrating odors of gases and vapors.
- Self-contained respirators: When there is imminent danger to life due to lack of oxygen, such as in tank cleaning in case of emergencies.
FOR THE EARS
- Standard: Decrease by 27 dB approximately. Allow secure fit to the ear canal.
- Molding: Decreases by 33 dB. They are made to fit to the shape of your ear.
- Type Cup or ear cups: They attenuate the noise by 33 dB approximately. They cover the entire ear.
FOR THE HANDS
- Disposable plastic gloves: Protect against mild irritants.
- Aluminum material gloves: Used to handle hot objects.
- Dielectric gloves: Isolate contact worker with hazardous energies.
- Chemical resistant gloves: Protect hands against corrosive, acids, oils and solvents. There are different materials: PVC, Neoprene.
FOR FEET
- Plastic boots: When working with chemicals.
- Safety boots with steel toe cap: When handling loads and when in contact with sharp objects.
- Shoes with non-slip sole: When exposed to moisture in toilet activities.
- Dielectric Safety Boots: When near cables or electrical connections.
FOR WORK IN HEIGHTS
For work at a height of more than 1.8 meters above the floor level, use full safety harness:
- Helmet with barbell
- Carabiners and slings
- Life line
Before performing any work at height, all Personal Protective Equipment must be inspected. Each team must have a resume in which the data of each inspection are recorded. Under no circumstances should any defective equipment be allowed to be used, it must be removed immediately.
People working at height should receive training in the use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
For proper maintenance, wash them regularly in a soapy solution, allow them to air dry (away from the sun), store them in their case or bag, store them near hot surfaces and ask for change when any waste is noticed.