Personal Protective Equipment - The Truth Overlooked By The Media

There has been quite a lot of media attention recently about the increased need for supplying and wearing personal protective equipment, such as work gloves and safety goggles. The main reason for this has been the significant rise in insurance premiums for many businesses and organisations, which in turn has been caused by the rise in compensation claims.

But there's a problem. Because it seems that much of the media attention and subsequent discussion has focussed exclusively on the provision and usage of personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE), as though this alone is sufficient.

It's not. First of all, PPE should only ever be considered as the very last line of defence. Any possible way of reducing or eliminating a risk must be explored and applied before it is deemed necessary to require people to use safety equipment or clothing. After all, supplying safety gloves is fine if someone needs to use a cutting tool, but if the risk can be eliminated by having the cutting tool automated and protected behind screens, that's clearly a preferable alternative.

But the second problem, and perhaps the biggest, is that too many people are assuming that by wearing safety clothing people are automatically protected, and that not only has the level of risk been lowered, but the risk of an injury and subsequent compensation claim has also been removed. This isn't true.

One of the biggest dangers as far as protective clothing and equipment is concerned is that it is ill fitting, inappropriate or incompatible.

If safety clothing such as work gloves is the wrong size then a number of problems can occur. If it is too small then this will restrict movement, and could constrict blood flow, leading to reduced circulation and nerve damage. It is also likely to make the wearer feel hot and uncomfortable, and this is likely to lead to them removing the gloves for periods at a time, which means that they are unprotected. If the clothing is too large then it could easily catch in a machine, causing an accident or injury.

If safety clothing has been chosen that is inappropriate then it may not offer any protection at all. For example, wearing safety gloves designed to protect against cutting may offer no protection as far as abrasion is concerned. This is because items such as gloves incorporate special materials, moulded in special ways and located on specific areas of the glove. Today most work gloves are designed to protect against very specific risks, and it is simply not acceptable to assume that if a pair of gloves has the word 'safety' in the name then they will guard against a variety of different types of risk.

Finally, it's important to bear in mind that for personal protective equipment to be of any use it must be compatible with other items of clothing and equipment which may be worn at the same time. In many instances it has been found that eye protection and breathing apparatus can't be worn at the same time, rendering either or both useless.

So when viewing the media interest in PPE it's important not to become complacent, and to bear in mind that when wearing protective clothing or equipment you're only actually protected if it is the right size, it is appropriate and it is compatible, otherwise the wearer is not protected, and neither is the business when it comes to compensation claims.