How PPE’s make the Workplace Safer
As the objective of a Personal Protective Equipment program is to stop occupational injury from taking place, it cannot be the first option for protecting workers. The employment of PPE does not stop disasters from taking place. PPEs merely reduce the exposure or severity of the work place related injuries (Spellman and Whitling, 335).
The parts of the Body that are protected
Hygiene or comfort masks protect the workers from excessive dust. Ear muffs and semi inserts will protect the ears of workers in places where there is a great deal of noise (Spellman and Bieber, 119). This kind is best worn by workers who are frequently exposed to blast that reach beyond the Exposure Action Level. Industrial helmets or scalp protectors, on the other hand, protect workers from falling materials. They are frequently worn by building constructors and firemen among others. Eye shields, safety goggles, safety spectacles, and face shields shield workers’ eyes when they are operating with work with power driven gadgets or hazardous materials. Foot protective devices are necessary in demolition as well as construction sites (Spellman, 123).
They are usually Wellington boots with steel toe-caps, and sometimes, gumboots. Hand and arm shields may be necessary while managing pointed or sharp objects or while operating with vibrating gadgets like pneumatic drills. Hand and arm protective materials may include armlets, wrist cuffs, gauntlets, gloves and barrier cream, which, sometimes, is used in place of gloves. Body protection comprises of coveralls, overalls, aprons, life jackets, back supports, and harnesses. Body protection is worn when workers are operating in places where there is moving transport, or next to a highway. Respiratory protective gear comprises of respirators that sift polluted air. This type of PPE is worn when fumes, harmful dust, or noxious vapors exist in the workplace; which is often the case in places where there is a lot of dust, work with risky substances, and welding.
Cost effective equipment
Multinational corporations such as the ‘JBS Group’, based in the United States, and Esidirect in Australia, provide cheap but effective personal protective equipment for workers in different industries. Gloves, boots, ear muffs, armlets, head caps and eye shields all cost between $11 and $15 per pair. However, firefighting equipment such as oxygen tanks, is considerably more expensive, and ranges between $60 and 150$ per set.
Harmful objects in the workplace
Many workplaces require employees to remove their bangles and other types of jewelry prior to commencing their jobs. Large jewelry can get trapped in the moving parts of the equipment. This can result in the loss of fingers or limbs. In addition, metallic rings can conduct electricity which can be quite harmful to the wearer (Thomas, 257).
Injuries outside the workplace
In some corporations, the provided workers’ compensation insurers cover injuries that take place outside of the workplace (Roberts, Burton and Bodah, 76). Most states will have sponsored disability insurance contractors that cover employees who are not able to work owing to injuries that happened outside of the workplace (Friend and Kohn, 417). Employers do not really have a lot of control over the choice of interests or hobbies of their employees. Moreover, if the employer is paying for his or her worker’s insurance benefits, then the employer has a right to stipulate that the workers will not be covered if they engage in some type of risky hobbies or sports. When employees have other hobbies that are equally strenuous, it would be advisable for them to speak with the employer so that they are given duties that do not demand too much of their time or require a lot of straining (Speegle, 102). If an employee strains him or herself in participating in a game that is strenuous, participating in strenuous tasks such as heavy lifting can actually aggravate already strained muscles, thereby resulting in a serious injury (Charney and Hudson, 212). There are groups of employees, such as pregnant workers, that automatically qualify for less-strenuous tasks. However, hobbies cannot be put in the same category as pregnancy. Therefore, it is best for there to be an agreement between workers who engage in exhaustive sports or hobbies and their employers.
How to be safe even when lifting many heavy things
Many Musculoskeletal disorders are caused by accidents that take place during heavy lifting. Before moving heavy objects, workers have to consider if they even need to move the object. If they need to move it, they can consider using trolleys or other implements to help them in moving particularly heavy equipment (CAPT, 307). They could also try to separate the different parts of the machinery and carry each of the pieces to the designated place. If a worker has to transport or lift heavy goods, he or she should be trained in the appropriate health and safety techniques (BP/IChemE, 33).
There are exercises that simplify the task of carrying heavy things. An employee should first engage in stretching the legs and back in order to be more flexible. The quad also contributes towards attaining flexibility (Asfahl and Rieske, 342). While maintaining the standing position, the worker can raise his or her arms several times, wiggle the fingers, squat a number of times, and bend the knees (Ashbury and Ashwell, 218). To stretch the hamstrings, which can result in lower back pain if not flexible, a worker should practice the bodyweight squat is helpful. The worker’s hands do the least amount of work when carrying heavy loads (Angle, 298). They are however necessary for controlling and grabbing the object. A worker should spread all fingers and flex them slowly prior to engaging in lifting a heavy load. This helps in keeping the joints and well-ligaments lubricated. It is important for workers not to attempt to lift anything that is too heavy. Prior to lifting a load, they should ensure that they are not standing on slippery ground, and also look around to ensure they do not bump into anyone unexpectedly.
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