What is PPE?

PPE,short for Personal Protective Equipment, which is the term used to refer to any clothing worn in the workplace which protects or safeguards an individual from injury or infection. Different workplaces will require different types of PPE, for example steel-toe boots, helmets and high visibility clothing are required on a construction site, whilst occupations dealing with hazardous chemicals may require the use of respirators, safety goggles and even hazmat suits.

 Why is PPE necessary?

 The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Legislation requires all employers to supply appropriate protective gear to their employees where there are potential risks to their health and safety that cannot be controlled in other ways. This legislation requires a thorough risk assessment of the workplace as well as assessment of the PPE itself to ensure it will provide adequate protection.

 As an employer, PPE must be supplied to employees free of charge. It must also be maintained to adequate standards, and replaced as and when necessary.

 Types of PPE

Knee Protection:Kneeling is an unnatural working position. Without protective knee pads,workers may suffer discomfort and immediate injuries from hard surfaces and small stones and similar objects lying on the surfaces. However no knee protector can ensure that workers will not suffer medical complications if they are required to kneel for long periods. It is important that knee protectors do not compromise venous drainage in the leg while kneeling or standing up. Therefore it is important that it is easy for workers to change position and to stand up to re-establish a normal blood circulation at frequent intervals while wearing knee protectors. Work in a kneeling position involves the risk of chronic diseases such as prepatellar bursitis and cartilage injuries caused by continuous pressure on the knees. Vuino knee pads is therefore recommended for all work in the kneeling position. The protection should distribute forces evenly and prevent small hard objects on the ground causing injuries. Many workers have pre-existing damage to their knees particularly to their cartilages from sports injuries and from previous work.

 Foot Protection: This can be for a variety of purposes, from preventing injury from falling objects to preventing slips, trips and falls. Protective boots usually have a steel toe and reinforced sides to bear the brunt of any potential hazards.

Headwear: hard hats are used to protect the head from impact, and generally must be able to withstand penetrative force and absorb blows from falling objects.

Ear Protection: Certain work environments use heavy machinery or equipment that can cause damage to an employee’s hearing. In these instances, ear muffs or plugs should be provided to reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss.

Eye Protection: This can take several forms, including but not limited to safety glasses, goggles and full face shields. Which is worn will depend on their purpose: to prevent splashes from chemicals, protect from flying debris or to even protect the eyes from potentially damaging light.

Gloves: Again there are a variety of different gloves used for a range of purposes. For example, insulated gloves when working with hot materials or to prevent electrical shock, gloves to prevent cuts as well as those to prevent contamination. Some gloves have long cuffs to cover more of the arm area.

Protective clothing: This can range from hi vis clothing to fireproof suits and thermal clothing. Hi-vis, being perhaps the most commonly used, makes a person more visible in the workplace, reducing the risk of accidents. Thermal clothing is used in many instances for people who work outside in a range of environmental conditions.

How much does it cost?

PPE does not need to cost the earth, great deals can be found, particularly when buying in large quantities. Here at Vuino we offer outstanding value in our bundle deals, and you can even have your company logo printed or embroidered free of charge with these great offers. We also have great prices on our range of boot gaiters,waist support belt as well as custom tool pouch our range of other safety gear. Browse our entire range today, or contact us today for more information.

Overall, it is vital that your company adheres to the legislation regarding PPE, make sure you know what you need for your business!