Personal protective equipment

In some areas of work, the risks to workers are enormous. This is where PPE or Personal Protective Equipment plays an important role. It keeps professionals safe from work-related risks. But for optimal protection, you have to know how to find the right equipment adapted to your work environment and the level of safety it offers.

How to choose personal protective equipment?

Choosing a personal protective equipment does not happen by chance. This varies from one job to another, and the degree of security. Apart from that, there are several criteria to take into account to ensure a level of protection that meets your expectations.

• Compliance with current standards: This is important because they define the functionality of the equipment and the level of security it offers .
• The range: the lifespan of your PPE depends on its quality.
• CE marking: whether the risk is minor, intermediate or serious, this marking must be displayed on each PPE. It guarantees compliance, by the manufacturer, with the conformity requirements established by Community regulations.
• The work environment and the tasks to be done: an assessment of the risks incurred is necessary.
• The durability of PPE
• ease of use
• comfortability

In addition, you still have to choose your equipment according to the constraints, the material to be handled, the duration of exposure in a risky environment and its compatibility with the work to be provided.

The different kinds of Personal Protective Equipment

With evolution, it is now possible to protect yourself from head to toe. It has even become essential for the health of the workers and for the smooth running of the work. There are eight types of PPE.

Protective helmets:

They offer protection against shocks, falling heavy objects and punctures. To choose the right suitable helmet, it is important to ensure that the bottom of the headdress surrounds the head well. It has to fit snugly.

Earplugs and noise canceling headphones

This is ideal if you work in a noisy environment, such as the continuous sound of jackhammers or chainsaw. For selection criteria, plugs should fit well and be easy to care for. The limits of hearing protectors must be evaluated according to the work environment.

Protective gloves

Hands are the most exposed to risks in a workstation. They must then be protected against shocks, cuts, flames; burns, radiation, electrical voltages and skin irritations. workgloves are essential because they protect every part of the hand such as the nails, fingers, muscles and bones. To choose protective gloves, it is necessary to make a safety analysis of the tasks to be performed. If you handle chemicals, please refer to the product's MSDS.

Protective clothing

They protect against multiple hazards, such as cuts, flames, colds, chemicals, and electrical hazards. To choose them well, they must be adapted to the morphology of each worker, and well adjusted.

Safety shoes

Wearing work shoes avoids the risk of injury, crushing, burning, slipping, or even electric shocks. You must ensure that they comply with the CAN/CSA-Z195-02 standard, according to article 344 ROHS of the Labor Code.

Eye protection

To avoid eye damage, wear either protective goggles or face shields. They protect against the risk of particle and liquid projection, welding flashes and radiation. It is important that it is well in place, comfortable and compatible with other PPE.

Safety masks at work

These respiratory protections prevent the inhalation of contaminants such as chemicals, fumes, gases, as well as other substances. Dangerous. A seal test must be done to prevent leaks and bad fitting of the masks.

The safety harness

These safety equipment provide protection against risks at height and loss of balance. It must be well adapted to the morphology to properly protect workers. When prevention, elimination or risk reduction are not enough, collective protection measures must be taken. This improves the level of security for professionals.