The importance of PPE to guarantee occupational safety.

Personal protective equipment seeks to protect the worker from possible risks to their safety or health, but what is the importance of PPE in the prevention of risks to guarantee occupational safety?

In order to promote the safety and health of workers through the application of measures and the development of activities necessary for the prevention of risks arising from work, Law 31/1995 on the prevention of occupational risks establishes a series of general principles.

Article 17 should be highlighted, where it says that each employer has the obligation to provide workers with adequate protective equipment for the performance of their duties whenever a risk cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited. The employer is responsible for providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees. You should be familiar with the security risks in your industry, as well as the steps you can take to counter these risks.

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Personal protective equipment They are those intended to be worn or held by the worker to protect him from risks that may threaten his safety or health. Awareness must be raised of the importance of the use of PPE to guarantee occupational safety.

PPE should be used at all times and anywhere if necessary. Before use, the instructions for use must be observed, they must be stored correctly and it must be checked if they still offer sufficient protection. But when and what kind of protection to use?

7 tips to guide you:

1. PROTECT YOUR HEAD

The use of a helmet It offers protection and can prevent head injuries. A resistant helmet that is adapted to the working conditions should be chosen. Today, you can find a A wide variety of designs and additional options can be chosen (an adjustable inner harness, chamois, etc.).

2. SAFETY FOR YOUR EYES

The eyes are the most complex and fragile part of the body. Every day, more than 600 people around the world suffer eye injuries during their workday. Thanks to a good safety glasses, these types of injuries can be prevented.

3. HEARING PROTECTION

Do you work in an environment with high sound levels? If your answer is yes, it is very important that you take into account hearing protection. Earplugs are comfortable, but Anti-noise earmuffs and helmets are practical in the workplace as they are easy to put on and take off.

4. MAINTAIN GOOD BREATHING

Although nowadays the mask has become an essential element in our daily lives, wearing a mask at work it is not a luxury. It is definitely not when it comes into contact with hazardous materials. 15% of EU employees inhale vapours, smoke or dust when doing their job. Dust masks They offer protection against dust and other hazardous particles. If the materials are really toxic, it should be used a full-face mask. It adheres firmly to the face, protecting the nose and mouth from harmful contamination.

5. PROTECT YOUR HANDS WITH THE RIGHT GLOVES

Hands and fingers are injured very often, so it is very important to protect them properly. Depending on the sector in which you work and the protection you need, you can choose Gloves with different applications:

• Vibration protection.
• Protection against cuts with pointed materials.
• Protection against cold or heat.
• Protection against bacteriological risks.
• Protection against splashes with diluted chemicals.

6. FOOT PROTECTION

Even feet need solid protection. Safety footwear (type Sb, S1, S2 or S3) and boots (type S4 or S5) are the ideal solution to protect the feet against heavy weights. A non-slip sole It is useful when working in a humid environment, given that 16.2% of all industrial accidents are caused by tripping or slipping. On slippery surfaces, such as snow or ice, they are recommended shoes with crampons. Socks special features can offer extra comfort.

7. WEAR THE RIGHT WORK ATTIRE

Finally, it is essential to prevent accidents in crowded places. That’s why it’s mandatory to have good visibility at work: Hi-vis jackets and pants made of a strong fabric They can help prevent accidents. As in the case of hand protection, there are versions for different applications.

In the worst case…

Prevention is better than cure. The prudent thing to do is to be prepared for the worst. There are options such as: A classic first aid kit or a first aid kit for the eyes. Both can be a fundamental help. In addition, if employees come into contact with chemicals, it is mandatory to have a safety shower, so that substances can be cleaned from your body at any time.

Prevent accidents: Pictograms.

The smart thing to do is not only to prepare the work area in case of accidents, but to organise the work area in such a way that no serious accidents occur. A simple way to make your work area safer is by using Pictograms: indicating flammable materials, the necessary use of hearing protection, indicating emergency exits, etc.

Therefore, take care!

The above tips are simple and easy to apply in a work environment. Properly observing safety takes little effort, but it can have a great influence on health.

At Liftisa, safety is one of our primary goals. We work every day to create a safe working environment. And above all, we care about offering the highest levels of security to our Clients and in this way, offer the best rental, sale and after-sales advice in the sector.

Our entire fleet is up to date with the required maintenance, annual safety checks and mandatory technical inspections. In this way, Liftisa can always offer the machines in the best conditions to our customers.

Don’t leave anything to chance and check out our Security section for more information.