OSHA Requirements for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
There are many ways to keep your crew safe while on the job. Proper equipment training and outfitting your team in personal protective equipment (PPE) are two of the most important. With AerialLiftCertification.com, you and your colleagues can discover all there is to know about staying safe at work and wearing the necessary protective gear. Keep reading to learn how PPE can impact work safety.
What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
Just what is personal protective equipment? Also known as PPE, it’s any construction wearable that serves to protect employees from hazards in the workplace. While you might first think of surgical masks worn by healthcare professionals when you hear the term PPE, construction workers and warehouse employees also benefit from donning similar gear. Hard hats, safety goggles, ear plugs, and respiratory protection are all types of personal protective equipment designed to keep workers safe from injury while on the job.
Employers are legally required to protect their employees from workplace hazards. They must ensure their workers are properly outfitted with the appropriate PPE before they can begin laboring. In most states, employers are also required to pay for their employees’ personal protective equipment (PPE).
Benefits of Wearing Personal Protective Equipment
The benefits of donning personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job site are obvious: they protect the wearer from injuring themselves should an accident occur. Hard hats are great for protecting employees from falling equipment or materials. Ear plugs drown out the harsh sounds of loud equipment. Respiratory protection helps filter out harmful particulates from the air. There’s no limit to the ways PPE can improve the working conditions and safety for workers.
It’s not just accidental injuries that workers must be cautious about. Long term exposure to industrial environments can lead to chronic conditions and, in some cases, permanent loss of hearing and vision. That’s why it’s so important to always wear the necessary OSHA personal protective equipment when working in hazardous settings.
OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
OSHA standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) help ensure compliance on job sites across the country. They require employees to wear the right PPE any time they are exposed to hazardous conditions. There are specific OSHA standards for the following PPE:
- Head protection
- Hearing protection
- Eye protection
- High-visibility hats, pants, and vests
- Hand protection
- Foot protection
- Fall protection
These standards are just the tip of the OSHA personal protective equipment iceberg. While it might seem like a lot of information to take in, these guidelines are covered in detail in our AerialLiftCertification.com training course. If you’re unsure of safety best practices for PPE, it’s a good idea to register for our course and educate yourself and your team.
Consequences of Not Wearing Adequate Personal Protective Equipment
Fail to don the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and you could find yourself with serious injuries. Safety rules and regulations exist to protect employees who work in hazardous environments. While it might seem like common sense to wear a hard hat or protective goggles while on the job, the official requirements make PPE mandatory. It’s important to maintain your equipment over time, too – neglecting your PPE can put you at unnecessary risk of injury.
Injuries aren’t the only potential consequence of not wearing the right PPE. OSHA performs routine safety audits. If they discover workers who aren’t wearing the right protective gear, they may levy expensive fines against employers. Employees who fail to wear proper PPE may even risk their jobs. Given how much is at stake, it’s best to always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while on the job.
Choose the Right Aerial Lift Equipment Safety Training Program For Your Team
Once you have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), you need to ensure that your team knows how to use and maintain it effectively. PPE manufacturers can provide specific instructions for use, but safety training can hammer home the most important messaging. Such training also ensures that your workers are in compliance with OSHA regulations.
AerialLiftCertification.com provides comprehensive training for workers of all experience and skill levels. Our program educates workers on safety best practices and how to reduce the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. To learn more about our program, please contact us online or call us today at (888) 278-8896.