Personal protective equipment (PPE)

With the rise of all these new technological solutions, it’s easy to forget, but when it comes to safety, traditional protective equipment still proves to be invaluable on a regular basis. Personal protective equipment (PPE) consists of devices used to protect people from the risk of harm or injury they face due to their work or the environment in which it takes place. PPE, as the name suggests, is protective equipment designed for people. It protects against hazards, but does not eliminate them. The hazards remain.

Examples of protective measures and the corresponding PPE include:

• Head protection (helmet)
• Eye and face protection (safety goggles or face shield)
• Hearing protection (earplugs)
• Respiratory protection (from dust masks to self-contained breathing apparatus)
• Fall protection (safety harness with lanyard)
• Hand and arm protection (gloves)
• Foot Protection (Safety Shoes)
• Workwear (such as flame-retardant and antistatic)

The process of determining which PPE is needed seems fairly simple, but it isn’t. This is because PPE is protective equipment used when measures that address the hazard itself do not provide sufficient protection. By using PPE, the responsible party—usually the employer—is therefore stating that the situation has been assessed and that, with regard to the residual risk, there is no alternative to using PPE. How does this work?

This is where the occupational health strategy comes into play. It outlines the order in which measures must be taken to ensure that work can be performed as healthily and safely as possible. The occupational health strategy is as follows:

1. Source control measures. If possible, the root cause of the problem should be eliminated first. For example, replacing a hazardous substance with a safer alternative.
2. Collective measures. If it is not possible to address the source of the noise, so-called collective measures must be taken. These are measures that provide protection for everyone. Examples include moving noisy machinery outside the workplace, installing sound barriers, or setting up an exhaust system.
3. Individual measures. If collective measures are not feasible or do not yield sufficient results, individual measures should be taken. For example, reducing exposure to the risk through job rotation or by working for two hours followed by a thirty-minute break.
4. PPE. Personal protective equipment is provided only if the first three measures have no effect or are insufficient.

Of course, PPE may always be provided, as long as it does not serve as an alternative to measures at the three higher levels. The measures are explicitly arranged in a hierarchical order, precisely to prevent this. The person in charge must therefore first explore the options at a higher level before deciding on measures from a lower level. It is only permitted to take measures at a lower level if there are good reasons for doing so. It is therefore important to consider this when designing the workplace and defining job roles, and to try to avoid hazards.

• The PPE required in the workplace is determined based on a risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E). This should provide insight into which risks occur and to what extent.
• Next, employees must be informed about these risks so that they understand the need to use PPE. This should be accompanied by regular training and instruction on the safe use of PPE and on applicable safety rules. Toolbox meetings are one of the methods that can be used for this purpose.
• PPE must be tailored to the user and suitable for the work to be performed. Every effort should be made to ensure that it does not hinder the user while performing their work, in part to prevent the employee from failing to use the PPE. The selection of PPE should preferably be made in consultation with the employee, and PPE must bear the CE mark and come with an instruction manual.
• The requirement to use PPE in certain areas must be clearly indicated, for example using pictograms (see examples in the image).
• Ensure that PPE is used correctly. For example, the use of required PPE can be mandated in the company policy, and violations can be subject to disciplinary action to ensure that employees take their safety seriously.
• Essential PPE is provided free of charge and repaired or replaced at no cost. The effectiveness of PPE depends in part on its condition. It must be properly maintained, and any damage must be reported. If damage is beyond repair, the PPE must be replaced.

The above outlines how SERIS handles the use of PPE. Because we want all our employees to return home safe and sound after work, the use of PPE is mandatory. This requirement applies not only to our own employees. Employees are always encouraged to report hazardous situations and unsafe behavior. This can be done to their own supervisor, but also to our designated representative. Within our client’s organization, our employees must report issues in accordance with the procedure agreed upon with the client. However, in the event of an immediate risk, our employees will not hesitate to take immediate action, knowing they have the employer’s support. SERIS always takes safety seriously. Do you?