Several types of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be included in your risk assessment if you work in a hazardous environment. Personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the risk of injury, but it must be used correctly to be effective. If you cannot determine whether protective equipment is necessary for your particular task, you should seek advice from an experienced source. The following are some common types of personal protective clothing:
Hand Gloves
There are many different types of gloves that people use in the workplace, at home, and personal protection. The main types of protective gloves include a cut-resistant glove, antiseptic handwash, vinyl, nitrile rubber, latex, kitchen glove, oven mitts, and dishwashing gloves. Each type offers a different degree of protection to the wearer against a particular hazard or range of hazards, depending on what is required. If your workplace requires you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), it should be included in your risk assessment. Staff may not know what PPE they need or why they need it until the area has been assessed.
Eye Protection
Eye protection is one of the most common types of protective clothing. There are three main eye protection pieces: safety glasses, goggles, and face shields. Each type offers a different level of protection depending on what is necessary to protect the face from impact or chemical injury.
Ear Protection
Earplugs and earmuffs protect the wearer's ears against loud noises and impact hazards such as heavy machinery. However, they work differently and may not be suitable for all workplace environments. If your place of work requires you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), it should be included in your risk assessment. Staff may not know what PPE they need until the area has been assessed.
Respiratory Protective Equipment
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is designed to protect people from breathing in harmful substances. The most common RPE types are half masks and full-face masks, covering the nose and mouth or entire face. Each type has different levels of protection depending on what the wearer needs to be protected from. If you work near chemicals that could cause harm if inhaled, your risk assessment should include respiratory protective equipment as part of personal protective equipment.
Body Protection
There are different types of body protection, such as aprons, chainmail safety vests, high visibility clothing, and overalls. These items provide a barrier between you and whatever hazard you might encounter, reducing the chance of injury. Some items, such as a chainmail safety vest, increase the chance of injury differently. This is because they protect vital organs without offering protection for other areas. If you work in an environment where the possibility of injury exists, including body protection in your risk assessment, you can ensure that staff have all the necessary personal protective equipment to protect themselves from harm.
Clothing plays a crucial role in protecting workers from hazards. Personal protective clothing provides limited protection against workplace hazards and is usually used as part of an overall program to protect workers. It can reduce exposure levels, prevent injuries, and reduce the risks associated with various hazards.