The importance of PPE has always been ignored, but the truth is that it has been instrumental in saving the lives of millions of workers in the United States. PPE or personal protection equipment refers to the protective gear worn by workers during hazardous operations, which can be dangerous to their health and safety. This practical solution will minimize the risks of workplace related injuries, accidents or infections.
Hazards are always there at a workplace no matter what industry you are working in. Even dust or debris could hurt or damage your health if you are not protected while working. Personal protective equipment acts as a safeguard against many hazards prevailing in workplaces like fire, hazardous chemicals or dangerous objects.
For people responding or those participating in cleaning hazardous chemicals, a special gear is required to protect them from the harmful chemicals they are handling. Anyone who comes in direct contact with a hazardous chemical spill must use personal protection equipment. It allows employees to avoid hazards and properly clean the toxic substances without the fear of being exposed.
The training on how PPE can be correctly used and the focus on each component of PPE execution is covered in the 40 hour HAZWOPER training course. The very first step that each participant will learn is to choose the correct equipment to protect themselves. Improper selection of protection equipment has been known to result in irreversible harm to the workers. OSHA has put out a few requirements when it comes to the selection of personal protection equipment. The equipment must be marked only to recognizable manufacturers and must be capable of withholding any damages or infection. Those PPE which do not meet the OSHA guidelines must be avoided.
Again employees must be properly trained on how the PPE can be used. HAZWOPER training courses will provide a segment on this issue but a hands on experiment is often left out, especially with online training. Online training would provide a detailed information on the importance of PPE and on how it can be used, but OSHAs guidelines require workers to be trained with actual equipment in a course.
The use of PPE in any industry is a necessity rather than an option especially when workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals. It is the responsibility of the employers to make sure workers are well educated on the personal protection equipment.