The following information comes from FirstComp Insurance. The full article can be found here.
Employers are required to protect their employees from workplace hazards through the use of engineering and/or administrative controls. The purpose of engineering controls is to prevent employee exposure to potential machine, equipment or work environment hazards. Administrative or work practice controls remove exposure to potential hazards by changing the way employees perform their jobs. When these controls are not feasible or do not provide adequate protection, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. PPE may be used alongside, but not in place of, engineering and/or administrative controls.
To determine which personal protection is appropriate you must:
- Identify hazards in the work area
- Select and utilize appropriate PPE to protect you from those hazards
- Receive training on how to correctly use and care for your PPE
- Learn the limitations of the equipment including the useful life span
Eye and Face Protection
There are five basic types of eye and face protection available: safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding helmets and laser eyewear. Wearing eye protection correctly is as important as choosing the right equipment. Safety glasses, which provide front and side protection, should grip your head snugly and sit comfortably on the bridge of your nose. Goggles, which can be worn over prescription and safety glasses, should also fit snugly and seal the entire eye area. Face shields, welding helmets and laser eyewear should also fit snugly. Always wear safety glasses or goggles underneath shields and helmets for extra protection. Contact lenses and phototropic (variable-tint) lenses are often prohibited in some work environments, so check your employer’s rules.
Hearing Protection
Protect yourself from repeated exposure to excessive noise by wearing earplugs or ear muffs. Disposable earplugs are made from many types of material. The denser the material, the higher the Noise Reduction Rating. Throw away disposable earplugs as soon as you remove them. Earmuffs are filled with liquid or foam. When worn with earplugs, they offer the best protection from sound and flying debris. Make sure there’s a good cup seal around your ear. Store reusable hearing protection away from damaging substances and conditions after you clean them.
Head Protection
Use head protection such as hard hats whenever working in areas where falling or flying objects are possible and when working near exposed electrical conductors and moving machinery. Hard hats approved by the American National Standards Institute are tested to withstand a 40 foot-pound impact which is the equivalent of a 2 pound hammer falling about 20 feet. There should always be a space between the top of your head and the inside shell of the hat. This space allows the suspension system to absorb most of the impact from a striking object, and allows for air circulation. Check for a good fit by bending over with the hat on and shaking your head. The hat shouldn’t fall off because of its own weight. The suspension systems should be washed and inspected monthly. If any part is frayed or worn, replace it immediately.
Hand Protection
Hands and fingers are the most vulnerable part of the body. Knives cause most injuries to the hands, but working around chemicals, abrasive or corrosive materials, electrical equipment, machinery and hand tools can also be dangerous. Cut-resistant gloves should be worn when working with sharp objects or sharp tools. Wear appropriate gloves to protect against specific workplace hazards since no one glove will protect you against all hazards.
Foot Protection
Safety footwear protects you from compression, impact, punctures and chemicals. Types of foot protection include work shoes or boots and specialty items. Work shoes or boots are for long term use around heavy machinery and wet, muddy, frigid or high heat conditions. Specialty footwear includes spikes and chains, thermal socks and liners, leg, foot and metatarsal guards. For work around water, chemicals, oil or grease wear rubber or plastic foot protection with slip- and oil resistant soles.
Special Protective Clothing
When working around open flames or sparks, flame retardant clothing is required. Special protectors such as leather aprons protect against hazards posed by heavy, sharp or rough materials.
Fall Protection
Every year, many workers are injured in falls that could have been prevented if they had been using fall protection. The most effective piece of fall protection, when correctly secured, is the full body harness. A properly adjusted full body harness will spread the shock load over your body in the event of a fall. The shock absorber will lower you to a safe, slow stop.