PPE

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Permalink Reply by Jason Burzynski on November 30, 2009 at 9:14am

Using PPE is often essential, but it is generally the last line of defense after engineering controls, work practices, and administrative controls. Engineering controls involve physically changing a machine or work environment. Administrative controls involve changing how or when employees do their jobs, such as scheduling work and rotating employees to reduce exposures. Work practices involve training workers how to perform tasks in ways that reduce their exposure to workplace hazards.

Source - http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/ppe-factsheet.pdf

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Permalink Reply by Anandha padmanaban on December 7, 2009 at 7:00am

Ok sir.. But my basic doubt is many PPE's often cause dis comfort to workers. So is there any way atleast to reduce discomfort. For example, a carpenter working in his table gets distracted if he wears goggle and gloves. Instead can't the hazard be eliminated by any engineering control. Such as supplying air under pressure on a table could avoid fly of wooden pieces and it eradicates need of goggle. Like this can you please share some valuable information you have, so that we can make workplace hazard free. Thank you sir in advance.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Burzynski on December 7, 2009 at 3:10pm

One thing I have found that helps is getting the employees that will have to wear the PPE involved in the selection process. You can request samples from some of the major suppliers out there, have your staff "test drive" the PPE and let you know which style they liked best. By having them involved in the selction process it should be much easier to get their "buy-in".

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Permalink Reply by Anandha padmanaban on December 8, 2009 at 5:47am

Thank you for your time sir.. Will keep in contact with you sir..

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Permalink Reply by Jason Burzynski on December 8, 2009 at 12:46pm

Good luck! Hope I was able to help!

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Permalink Reply by Lyndon Pousson on December 13, 2009 at 5:34pm

It is my understanding that PPE is required when engineering and administrative controls no longer provide protection. In other words, PPE is a "last resort".

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Permalink Reply by Anandha padmanaban on December 14, 2009 at 2:05am

Ya.. I too strongly believe as you and thats the reason i asked is there no way to reduce hazard in working by management and engineering control.!! Its engineering which found concept of welding. So why can't we safety people request them to come up with engineering control over this equipments too..

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Permalink Reply by Pam Wilkinson on December 16, 2009 at 6:24am

In some areas we can come up with greater engineering controls. However, the cost becomes prohibitive. There becomes a point of diminishing return. In that case, that extra money could be better spent in other areas to protect other employees.
There is inherent risk in everything. You need to decide when you reach a point of diminishing return. At that point you add administrative/management controls and PPE to mitigate the risk to as low as reasonably possible. You will still need to track injuries and revisit that project if you find the injuries rising.

It really is about protecting as many people as possible. In some cases that takes administrative/management and PPE over additional engineering controls.

Does that make more sense?

Pam

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Permalink Reply by Anandha padmanaban on December 16, 2009 at 6:30am

Thank you sir.. As a student, i didn't realise the money factor involved in it.. I purely agree with what you said sir.. Thank you sir..

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Permalink Reply by Greg Brosey on December 16, 2009 at 3:35pm

Besides deminishing returns on your investment, don't forget that the hazards change from job task to job task. As long as the task does not change ( or atleast is somewhat limited), we have a good shot at engineeiring a safety solution. When tasks change from moment to moment, it's much harder to make engineering modifications. A good example of this would be a Maintenance Mechanic. His/her job may require that he/she be exposed to many hazards that cannot simply be engineered out (or administratively controlled). They get into difficult positions, perform many different operations, and use countless different types of tools. We try to plan ahead when putting projects together (by using FMEA's and other types of risk assessments) to eliminate may of the hazards, but try as we might, sometimes after all the engineering plans are made, all the administrative controls are in place, the only course of action left to protect our people is PPE.

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Permalink Reply by jenny andrew on January 28, 2010 at 5:46am

In theory we should be able to but there are just so many employers that just won't put any safet proceedures in place. I know we are a nation health and safety obsessed and often it goes too far but every busy needs to have some sort of safety measurement in place. We have advised employees on protective clothing, where to get it from and at the right price and put down anti slip tape on steps which is easy to do and hardly costs anything. Just simply things like that should be done in all business premises.

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Permalink Reply by Samir Desai on January 29, 2010 at 11:21am

apart from being the last line of defense, please do not underestimate the effect of PPE on the work environment and work culture. It has no less impact than many pictorial posters. It has as powerful visual impact as of uniform of security officer. And its absence helps in identifying a workman having an at-risk attitude.

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