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Everything you need to know about PPE manufacturing equipment and how to use them within your own production lines.
With the pandemic, we have long heard about the importance of PPE from various health organizations and governments. While it is still a good habit to use PPE in our daily lives, it is just as important to understand it in the context of manufacturing.
In manufacturing industries, PPE is associated with workplace hazards. These can appear in many different forms: falling debris, sharp materials, chemicals, and noise, among other potentially dangerous situations. It is important to protect employees from workplace hazards that can cause injury.
The following post will cover four topics:
Are you ready to gain a comprehensive understanding of PPE manufacturing? Let’s begin.
PPE stands for personal protective equipment. This gear protects workers from potential hazards while on the job. Common items considered PPE include gloves, safety glasses, and earplugs. Employers must provide their employees with the proper PPE for the specific task. Failure to do so can result in serious injuries or even death.
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as PPE, is equipment worn to avoid various hazards in manufacturing facilities. Gloves, protective hearing gear (earplugs, muffs), hard hats, goggles, respirators, and full-body suits are just a few examples of PPE.
PPE ensures more safety and reassurance in a dangerous manufacturing environment. It can be the difference between a minor injury and a life-threatening one.
While many argue that PPE can interfere with work or be uncomfortable, the benefits of wearing it far outweigh the drawbacks. Most companies have policies in place that require employees to wear certain types of PPE while on the job.
There are many personal protective equipment types, each with a specific purpose. The type of PPE manufacturing you need will depend on the hazards present in your workplace. For example, if you work with chemicals, you may need different equipment than someone who works with heavy machinery.
No matter what type of manufacturing job you have, there is some form of personal protective equipment that can help keep you safe. Do your research and make sure you are using the correct PPE for your specific job. Your life may depend on it.
PPE manufacturing is important for the following five reasons:
You will have to use different types of PPE depending on the manufacturing hazards to which your workplace is subject.
Here are 10 PPE manufacturing use cases:
There are many other examples, such as welding helmets, fire-retardent leggings, or fully-sealed body suits. The key to PPE manufacturing safety is wearing the right equipment for the job you are doing and ensuring that it is properly fitted to protect you effectively.
Administering manufacturing PPE in the workplace is no easy task. It takes great coordination and communication to ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows what is expected of them.
A hazard assessment allows you to identify physical and health hazards in the workplace. It begins with a walkthrough survey of the facility to develop a list of potential hazards in the following basic hazard categories:
In addition to noting the basic layout of the facility and reviewing any history of occupational illnesses or injuries, eight things to look for during the walkthrough survey include:
Select which PPE will be used to combat each hazard in your assessment. Make sure to sign and date your selection form.
Once selected, make sure that all PPE is in good condition and has no damage that could potentially harm the wearer. If there are any concerns, do not hesitate to replace the item or repair it if possible.
After the assessment and selection, employees required to use PPE must be trained before they use it. Critically, everyone must understand the plan, so there is no confusion later on. Re-training should be done if PPE manufacturing requirements change and as needed.
The following must be covered:
Remember to document the following information from your PPE hazard assessment, PPE selection, and training just in case you need to look back on it in the future. This will ensure that you have a record of what was done in case there are any questions or problems later on.
There you have it. Now you know what PPE is in manufacturing, why it is important, and the steps to administer manufacturing PPE properly in the workplace.
Protecting workers with PPE should always be a priority for any manufacturing employer, and it starts with managing your PPE inventory.
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