Why should we wear personal protective equipment ?

23 February 2022

What is personal protective equipment?

It is equipment designed to protect the worker from one or more occupational risks.

As this description indicates, as workers we can face several risks depending on the function.

For an ophthalmologist, for example, during an eye operation, the risk could be fluid projections, bacteria transmission by the hands, etc. In this case, masks, gloves, sterile or non-sterile gowns would be the most suitable individual protective equipment and therefore provide double protection for both the doctor and his patient.

Hand protection

Depending on your sector of activity, the necessary protection of your hands will be different but fundamental.

There are all kinds of hand protections :

Against bacteriological risks
Against cuts from sharp material
Against temperature changes
Against splashes (chemical, food, etc.)

Respiratory protection

Respiratory protection covers any contact with dangerous substances (dust, vapour, smoke, airborn particles, etc.). There are several types of masks and degrees of protection (Type I, Type II, FFP1, FFP2,…)

For more information about respiratory protection click here.

Head protection

When we talk about head protection, we immediately think of protective helmets. In itself, this is not wrong. A helmet is indeed a PPE, but there are many different types. You’ll find hats, caps, hoods,etc.

These can prevent head injuries or protect a patient, sterile material, etc. from hair, dandruff and other particles.

Eye protection

Eyes are very complex and vulnerable parts of our body. Eyes and face PPE’s include glasses, masks, screens and visors. There are also activity-specific PPE, such as welding masks for example.

The choice of personal eye and/or face protective equipment depends on the results of the risks assessment to which workers are exposed and the analysis of the constraints presented by the workstation, the tasks to be performed and the work environment.

Clothing protection

As for hand protection, clothes protection has several applications depending on the sector of activity. To avoid an accident, for example, some workplaces recommend a safety waistcoat as well as robust and reflective trousers. A doctor, for example, will wear a protective gown to avoid soiling from products, blood splashes, or other liquids.

Take care of yourself!

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Strictly respecting safety does not require any effort, but can have a great influence on your health.

Aware of the safety risks in your industry and the possible measures to take?