Essential PPE for workplace safety

personal protective equipment (PPE) helps protect employees from all the specific risks they may encounter on their working environment.

What does PPE mean in terms of safety: definition and regulations

Work equipment or PPE are defined by article R.233-83-3 of the Labor Code. These are devices designed to ensure the protection of professionals against possible risks threatening their health and safety in the workplace.

What PPE is required on the site?

To ensure their safety and increase their comfort in their work area, employees are required to wear protective clothing, safety shoes and accessories consistent with their activity.

What are the 3 orders of PPE to ensure the safety of a worker?

The three categories are differentiated by their degree of risk:

• The first category involves minor risks, specifically low consequence hazards. Class 1 PPE protects the vital parts of your body against shocks and helps prevent superficial lesions and injuries. This equipment includes protective goggles, gardening gloves or rainwear. They are self-certified and must include CE certification.
• Category 2 concerns major risks such as mechanical, chemical and physical injuries. Equipment of this order is also intended to protect the vital organs of your body. Class II PPE generally includes safety boots, protective visors, headsets or earplugs. In order to ensure your safety as much as possible, they undergo an EC type examination carried out by an authorized body.
• The last class protects you from mortal or irreversible dangers. Category 3 PPE includes fall protection harnesses, respiratory protection devices, life jackets, etc. This personal protective equipment must be CE type certified with production control carried out by an approved body.

What are the basic PPE in a company according to each area of ??work?

Each company must have safety equipment adapted to their activity and provide it free of charge to their employees. The employer is also responsible for the maintenance and regular inspection of this PPE to ensure that it is in good condition.

Compulsory protective equipment in catering

These PPE are mandatory for the kitchen and hospitality sector with the aim of mitigating risks and improving worker comfort.

• The kitchen aprons: they protect you from splashing hot liquids;
• Protective gloves: they protect cooks' hands from possible burns;
• Safety shoes: they prevent slips and falls;
• The kitchen jacket: it acts as a barrier against risks burns and dirt.

Personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals

This protective equipment serves as a barrier between the caregiver and biological risks such as contamination by viruses or bacteria.

Medical PPE includes protective gloves for the hands up to the forearm, protective goggles, gown, face shield, over-gown, shoes or shoe covers. Wearing masks is also essential since health professionals are in direct contact with infected patients.

Construction equipment for construction professionals

The construction sector is one of the professional activities most affected by work-related accidents. To ensure their comfort and safety, those who work on construction sites must therefore wear:

• Protective gloves: these accessories protect your hands from cuts, electric shocks, the risk of burns and the projection of dangerous substances;
• Safety shoes: they are compulsory for construction professionals, as they protect their feet against falling objects, the risk of slipping and perforation, bad weather, chemicals, etc ;
• Protective helmets: these PPE must comply with the NF EN 397/A1 standard and protect your head from knocks and shocks;
• Protective masks: these accessories protect the wearer's face and respiratory organs;
• Protective goggles: they protect the eyes against splashes of liquids, dust and other fine particles, as well as intense light and infrared rays;
• Protective harness with stop system: they protect workers from a possible fall when working at height;
• High-visibility clothing: these increase the visibility of workers in a tee- low light shirts.
• Workwear: these are safety pants, coveralls, shorts, jackets, vests and T-shirts.