10 Questions You Should to Know about Work Safety Gear

When it comes to the industrial sector, outfitting your team members with the proper protective equipment is imperative for workplace safety and regulatory compliance and mitigating lapses in productivity due to worker sickness or job site injury. Without providing the proper personal protective equipment for industrial workers, employers run the risk of employee injury and liability and the potential for penalties in the form of fines levied by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Wei Guang.

In this article, we’ll be covering 10 essential pieces of health and safety gear for industrial workers to meet industrial safety guidelines and keep your operation running smoothly.

1. Hard Hats

A staple for industrial safety the world over, hard hats play an essential role in protecting workers from potential head injuries in the workplace and remain a crucial component of industrial safety gear. OSHA determines the necessity of hard hat use with two standards — 29 CFR .135 for general industry workers, and 29 CFR .100 for construction and demolition workers. The different classes of hard hats offer different levels of protection and are an invaluable asset for health and safety equipment.

2. Proper Footwear and Leg Protection

While injuries to the lower body may be overshadowed in workplace health and safety efforts by more serious injuries to the head and neck, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found injuries to the lower extremities — classified as knee, ankle and foot — to be the second most common workplace injuries. These injuries are followed by those to the upper extremities — classified as shoulder, arm, wrist and hand — with approximately 270,000 cases occurring annually, and leading in median days away from work at 12. 

The most common forms of safety gear for lower body protection include

• Protective legwear: Common varieties of protective legwear for industrial safety applications include fire and chemical resistant pants and chaps, as well as pants reinforced with durable materials such as Kevlar. Additionally, many safety pants utilize side snaps for quick removal in case of hazard.
• Protective footwear: Footwear is crucial to industrial workplace safety, as proper safety shoes can protect from falling objects, as well as electrical shock and falls due to slips.
• Protective guards: Protective foot and leg guards protect workers from a variety of injuries, with the most commonly used guards being toe, metatarsal and shin guards produced from aluminum, fiberglass or steel.

3. Respiration Protection

In situations where employees are exposed to environments that pose a respiratory threat, breathing equipment is a necessity as part of health and safety equipment, as proper respiration protection prevents injuries in the short and long term. While OSHA requires the elimination of harmful dusts, fumes, gases, etc. by engineering control measures, situations where control measures are not feasible require the use of respirators.  

4. Eye Protection

Roughly 2,000 American workers suffer job-related eye injuries daily, with more than 100 resulting in one or more days of missed work due to injury. Adequate eye protection in the form of safety glasses, goggles and face shields prove crucial as industrial safety products, and providing proper eye protection in compliance with OSHA’s General Industry standards as outlined in 29 CFR .132 is the simplest way to avoid worker injury and lost production due to eye injury.

5. Full Body Protection

Full body protection is an equally crucial component for industrial safety, as in many industrial roles full body safety products are a necessity. Whether it’s exposure to paint, chemicals or high heat, comprehensive protection for the full body is vital health and safety gear across numerous fields.

Below are some of the most common examples of instances that require full body protection

• Heat exposure: In roles such as welding and steel production, exposure to extreme heat, flame, sparks and debris are common, and require full-body protection to prevent burns and heat exposure, as well as fire and flame resistant materials. 
• Chemical exposure: In laboratory and industrial chemical production settings, full-body protection is imperative for health and safety precautions given the toxicity of the chemicals being produced. Protection is in the form of full body suits capable of preventing particle leakage as well as resistance to tears and abrasions.
• Hazardous waste exposure: Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) workers require varying levels of protective equipment as designated by OSHA based on hazard level. Level A is the highest level of protection and requires a fully encapsulated chemical protective suit, in addition to a self-contained breathing apparatus, chemical resistant gloves and safety boots.

6. Hearing Protection

Hearing protection in the form of noise-reducing ear muffs and ear plugs are essential forms of industrial safety gear for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. About 50% of all manufacturing workers have been exposed to hazardous noise, resulting in roughly 20% of all manufacturing workers suffering from hearing difficulty.

7. Gloves and Hand Protection

Proper gloves and hand protection offer safety from a variety of industrial hazards, ranging from cuts and burns to electrical hazards and chemical exposure. Depending on the industrial role, different glove materials, thicknesses and lengths should be used to best meet the protective needs of the employee and health and safety compliance standards.

Common safety considerations for glove selection include

• Hazard identification: Crucial to determining the best industrial safety products across the board, knowing what type of hazard you’ll be protecting against is crucial when selecting safety gloves. Common categories include chemical hazards, thermal or temperature hazards, electrical shock hazards, puncture and sharpness hazards and combination hazards. 
• Thickness and material: These elements will likely follow hazard identification, as material considerations and glove thickness will be related to application and protection requirements, as well as dexterity needs.
• Length: Glove sizes can range from covering the hand only to extending up the arm, with the latter variety being ideal for scenarios in which splash or immersion protection is necessary.

8. Proper Clothing

Choosing the proper clothing plays an important role in industrial safety measures, as modern technology has enabled the treatment of fabrics to achieve properties such as chemical, heat and flame resistance. Fabrics that protect from dust and particles are equally important for hazardous applications ranging from chemicals to radiation exposure to prevent inward leakage of toxic substances that present immediate and long-term harm to workers.

9. Work Safety Detectors and Monitors

In addition to the apparel elements vital for industrial work safety, oftentimes additional tools are necessary to fully ensure worker health and safety. Safety equipment devices and hazard monitors provide a necessary level of protection in addition to personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper attire for industrial workers.

Some of these mechanisms include

• Air quality monitors: Indoor air quality monitors come in a variety of styles, with portable, fixed and handheld options available, and function to provide readings of air quality based on present particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that present health concerns.
• Gas and chemical detectors: Similar to air quality monitors, gas and chemical detectors come in a variety of configurations and functions to detect levels of toxic gases and chemicals harmful to employees.
• Radiation detectors: Radiation detectors provide readings that show exposure and concentration of different types of radiation, commonly detecting alpha, beta, gamma and X-rays to alert users of harmful radiation levels.

10. Proper Tools for the Job

Using the proper tools is an equally important component of industrial safety, and should be acknowledged as a vital component of health and safety gear for industrial applications. Common examples include properly insulated tools to prevent the risk of electrical shock and properly maintaining the tools being used to their manual standards. 

Choose SUNLINE for Your Health and Safety Supply Needs

Providing the proper protective equipment is essential for ensuring a safe working environment and maintaining regulatory compliance, which ultimately ensures healthy workers and minimal downtime due to workplace accidents. 

What is PPE Safety?

PPE safety is the practice of ensuring a safe, working environment for employees and visitors through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety is paramount to all businesses across industries, from those present in daily life such as manufacturing to niche ones such as embalming and death care. Using PPEs, paired with inspections such as workplace and restaurant inspections, assessments like health and safety risk assessments, and analysis such as gap analysis—is essential to protect employees from risks and hazards.

Why is it Important?

According to the hierarchy of controls by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), PPE (sometimes also referred to as PPE equipment)—is recommended to be the last level of defense to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but some businesses combined it with other control measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their workers. Here are some benefits of using PPEs:

• prevent unnecessary injury in the workplace;
• protect employees from excessive chemical exposure;
• prevent the spread of germs and infectious diseases including COVID-19;
• help businesses comply with regulatory requirements(e.g., The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations that’s recently been extended to limb workers); and
• improve employee productivity and efficiency.

The 4 Basic Types of PPE and Their Examples

However, even the strictest controls will not necessarily eliminate all the risks associated with most job tasks and this is where the need for PPE must be evaluated. A hazard assessment can help identify which specialized PPE will be required. There are numerous types of workplace safety equipment available depending on the hazard exposure and work conditions. The following are basic PPE that can help protect employees:

Face and Eye Protection

Face and Eye Protection includes safety goggles and face shields and should be used for tasks that can cause eye damage or loss of vision, sprays of toxic liquids, splashes, and burns.

Safety Tips:

• Check if safety glasses comply with the ANSI Z87.1 eye protection standard.
• Ensure that there are no cracks or deformities on the lenses.
• Ensure the strap is in good working condition and is firmly sealed to the cheek and forehead.
• Clean and disinfect after use.

Respiratory Protection

PPE includes full-face respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, N95 respirators, and surgical masks are used for a task that can cause inhalation of harmful materials to enter the body. This includes harmful gas, chemicals, large-particle droplets, sprays, splashes, or splatter that may contain viruses and bacteria such as COVID-19, viral infections, and more.

Safety Tips:

The company is the world’s best Work Safety Gear supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

• Ensure that the equipment is fit-tested and the employee has undergone proper training before wearing one.
• Carefully read the instructions to determine if it is designed to help protect against the hazards you may face.
• Change filters on half-mask or full-mask respirators frequently.
• Replace disposable respirators with every use.
• Surgical masks are not to be shared with anyone.
• Avoid touching the surgical mask after wearing it.
• Change surgical mask timely and should be disposed of after use.
• Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or soiled.

Skin and Body Protection

Skin and Body Protection PPE includes the following categories to protect employees from physical hazards:

Head Protection

Head Protection includes hard hats and headgears and should be required for tasks that can cause any force or object falling to the head.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that there are no dents or deformities on the shell and connections are tightened inside.
• Do not store in direct sunlight as extreme heat can cause damage.
• Choose appropriate cleaning agents as it can weaken the shells of hard hats and may eliminate electrical resistance.
• Always replace a hard hat if it was used for any kind of impact, even if the damage is unnoticeable.

Body Protection

Body Protection PPE includes safety vests and suits that can be used for tasks that can cause body injuries from extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bites and radiation.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that they are clean and free from cuts and burns.
• Always get a good fit to ensure full body protection.
• Ensure bodysuit is heat-resistant clothing when working with high-temperature hazards.

Hands Protection

Hands Protection PPE includes safety gloves and should be used for tasks that can cause hand and skin burns, absorption of harmful substances, cuts, fractures or amputations.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure hand protection fits perfectly with no spaces and is free from cuts, burns, and chemical residue.
• Always replace them if any sign of contamination was observed.
• Use rubber gloves when working with heat and electricity to reduce the risk of burn or electrical shock.

Foot Protection

PPE includes knee pads and safety boots and should be used for tasks that can cause serious foot and leg injuries from falling or rolling objects, hot substances, electrical hazards, and slippery surfaces.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure boots have slip-resistant soles that can protect against compression and impact.
• Ensure the sole plate is in good condition to prevent punctures.

Fall Protection

PPE includes safety harnesses and lanyards and should be strictly used for tasks that can cause falling from heights and serious injury or death.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure that the straps are free from tears, deformities, and burn marks.
• Check the buckles if connected securely and tightly.
• Dispose of the equipment if used after a falling incident.

Hearing Protection

PPE includes ear muffs and plugs and should be used for tasks that can cause hearing problems and loss of hearing.

Safety Tips:

• Ensure the equipment fit the ear canal perfectly.
• It is recommended to use formable earplugs to fit different sizes of ear canals.
• Use protectors that reduce noise exposure to an acceptable level to have room for communication.
• Ensure earplugs are clean and in good condition.

Learn more about hearing protection.

Other examples of PPE include:

• safety glasses or goggles
• safety shoes
• high-visibility clothing or vests
• heat-resistant gloves
• anti-vibration gloves
• welding PPE such as helmets and and flame-resistant clothing
• chemical-resistant suits or aprons
• safety harnesses and lanyards

Improve your EHS Management

Cultivate a safe working environment and streamline compliance with our EHS solutions.

Toolbox Talk for PPE

Workplace safety should begin with a hazard assessment. Once the hazards and risks have been identified, a plan can be put forward to prioritize and reduce the risk of injury. Useful systems and tools to perform hazard assessments include performing a risk assessment and a Job Safety Analysis (JSA).

The hierarchy of controls is a proven safety approach that helps protect employees. If elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls are not enough to eliminate the risk, it is vital to choose the appropriate PPE carefully. Ensure employees are properly trained to use the safety equipment and be able to detect and report any damages before commencing work.

A toolbox talk about PPE is recommended to discuss the different kinds of PPE that can be used to minimize the likelihood and mitigate the effects of hazards. A toolbox talk template can help in assessing the sufficiency and availability of safety equipment for all employees.

PPE Safety Requirements

Safety Officers play a crucial role in maintaining workplace safety by ensuring proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes assessing worksites for PPE requirements, providing well-fitted equipment, and training employees on safety standards. 

Learn more about PPE Safety Requirements.

PPE Safety Examples

These examples of PPE safety are based on a free PPE checklist provided by SafetyCulture for anyone to download and use for free.

To give you a better idea, we’ve created a PPE checklist sample pdf report below:

Digitize the way you Work

Eliminate manual tasks and streamline your operations.

PPE Safety Training

To make sure that PPEs are properly used and fully serve their functions, it’s important that your workers understand their proper use, maintenance, and disposal of PPE to protect themselves and the people around them. One of the most effective and efficient ways to do this is through hand-crafted courses that allow employees to do their PPE safety training even on mobile. SafetyCulture Training includes highly recommended premade courses that will cover the different types of PPE and demonstrate when and how to use them properly. 

For more information, please visit Industrial Safety Helmet.