Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – What Does It Include and Why

Safety of workers in the field should be one of the primary concerns of the employers and hence there is a need to employ certain strict protocols which includes use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies. These supplies are essential for the safety of the individuals specially working on the construction site. Here’s everything you should know about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies.

Personal Protective Equipment

What are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supplies?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to protect the vital parts of the body from getting injured in case of any unfortunate events. PPE include special protective clothing, like reinforced helmets, resistant goggles, masks, gloves, helmets, goggles, boots, pads, hazmat suits, guards, shields, or other garments designed and worn in order to protect the worker's body from injury, trauma or infection. The various natures of hazards that are mitigated by substantial levels include physical, chemical, biohazard, heat, electrical and suspended particulate matter like silica and asbestos.

The purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies is to prevent any direct injury to workers and personnel when other administrative and control factors are ineffective or inefficient. These are essential to reduce workplace deaths and potential life-long morbidities. Essentially, PPE supplies are classified into the following categories:

• Respiratory protection
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Hand and foot protection
• Head protection
• Skin protection 

Personal Protective Equipment

What to Keep In Mind When Buying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supplies?

Usually, the company you work for will purchase these items and hence your employer or if you are the boss must take care of the following-

1. You buy equipment only from registered, government licensed companies
2. The seller should have a valid license
3. Ask for test products and see their effectiveness before hand
4. Confirm that the seller has not earlier been found guilty of producing faulty equipment
5. Take assurance that the government has licensed the selling of that particular product and that it has been approved in government testing
6. Don’t compromise on quality to save a few bucks
7. Order an adequate number of equipment as there must be no shortage
8. PPE supplies should be last resort. Every measure must be taken to eliminate the primary danger.
9. Explain to your seller the type of work that is involved and takes suggestions for most suitable product
10. PPE supplies need regular, thorough maintenance and possible replacement.

Personal Protective Equipment

How Much Do Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supplies Cost?

Most individual units are not that expensive. Ranging from a few dollars to a couple hundred dollars, PPE supplies are generally affordable at large. It is essential that there is no cost cutting here because eventually, that may end up being even more expensive for the employer and employee.

Everyone who is working in the construction industry, mining industry any chemical industry and many such industries are at high risk but the workers are directly in the line of danger.  People who work outdoors in the night have to wear reflector jackets to be able to be seen by incoming vehicles. Pilots and ground crew at airports wear headphones and earplugs to save their eardrums from the deafening noise of aircraft.

Army personnel deployed in troubled regions wear bulletproof vests and CDC employees wear hazmat suits when in infected areas. Bikers need to wear helmets and firefighters need to wear fireproof clothing. Virtually every profession has to see that certain essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies are present at the work place and it is essential that they are kept well maintained and checked for any wear and tear every time before used.