Category: Personal Protective Equipment

No safety technology is changing as fast as that employed in PPE. The devices of just a few years ago are now obsolete by replacements that are lighter, easier to use, and more protective. These resources alert you to developments in the field, and equally important, supply training ideas to get your workers to use their PPE, and use it correctly.

Free Special Report: Does Your PPE Program Meet OSHA’s Requirements?

Don’t Have Any Doubts About PPE Requirements

Here are some questions about PPE requirements, with answers provided by the safety experts at Safety.BLR.com. Does OSHA specify the frequency of replacement of PPE, especially hard hats? OSHA does not specify the frequency of replacement of PPE. It is up to the employer to determine when PPE needs to be replaced. OSHA recommends that […]

What’s New in Safety Equipment?

Check out some innovations in PPE and other safety equipment from 3M Company, designed to boost safety protection in the workplace and at the worksite. Along with management commitment and employee involvement, there’s another essential factor in keeping your workplace safe—stuff. The devices and equipment designed to protect employees from harm play a big role […]

10 Tips for Encouraging PPE Compliance

Yesterday, we reviewed reasons for PPE noncompliance and a few tips for encouraging compliance. Today, we offer 10 additional tips for encouraging employee compliance. 1.    Establish and consistently enforce a policy requiring the use of assigned PPE. Make sure all employees are aware of the rules and the consequences of noncompliance (that is, in addition […]

PPE Noncompliance: A Serious Threat to Safety and Health PPE

A recent survey from Kimberly-Clark Professional reveals that many employees aren’t wearing required PPE. How about your workers? Are you sure they’re always wearing assigned PPE? 1.    Establish and consistently enforce a policy requiring the use of assigned PPE. Make sure all employees are aware of the rules and the consequences of noncompliance (that is, […]

Gearing Up For Safety

Some hazards at work simply can’t be eliminated completely by engineering solutions or substitutions. That’s when the company must provide its workers with personal protective equipment. Sounds simple—yet, is it? Every supervisor has heard all of the standard excuses. “The glasses give me headaches.” “The shoes pinch my toes.” “This hard hat is too heavy.” […]

5 Steps To Effective PPE Assessment and Selection

Take these five basic steps to assess workplace hazards and select the best PPE to protect employees. 1. Conduct a walk-through survey of work areas to identify workplace hazards. Look for all the basic hazard categories: Impact Penetration Compression (roll-over) Chemical Heat Harmful dust Light (optical) radiation 2. Consider sources of risk. Observe sources of: […]

Be Hard Headed About Head Protection

Workplace head injuries are a very serious safety concern because they can easily be fatal. Are your workers’ heads properly protected against all risks? To be effective, OSHA says all head protection should meet five basic criteria. It must: Absorb the shock of a falling object Prevent an object from penetrating it Resist water Burn […]

FAQs about Hearing Conservation

Review answers to key questions about workplace hearing conservation program requirements. What is the purpose of noise monitoring? OSHA’s Occupational Noise Exposure Standard (29 CFR 1910.95) requires you to place employees in a hearing conservation program if they are exposed to average noise levels of 85 dB or greater during an 8-hour workday. In order […]

Respiratory Protection: An Overview of OSHA Requirements

Medical evaluation is an important part of the respiratory protection standard. Here’s a quick review of requirements. According to OSHA’s respiratory protection medical evaluation requirements (29 CFR 1910.134[e] and Appendix C), you must provide a medical evaluation to determine each employee’s ability to use a respirator before the employee is fit tested or required to […]

Respiratory Protection: An Overview of OSHA Requirements

Take a quick tour of OSHA’s respiratory protection requirements now, and follow up later with a close look at the standard. OSHA’s general industry respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) applies to virtually any situation that requires respirator use in any industry except agriculture. The standard requires: A written respiratory protection plan with worksite-specific procedures […]