Personal Protective Equipment – The Dangers Of “Cheap”

Personal Protective Equipment:

“300 Bucks for a pair of safety boots!!??

Wow, no; I think we should look at something cheaper.
Do we even have to provide these guys with boots – They’re only going to be working here for a few days?”

Well – we’ve all heard, or thought along the same lines as above, and it can be a difficult pill to swallow.

In my previous article, I briefly covered the quality of safety harnesses and the ill-effects an incorrect model can have.
The same goes for Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing.

Please bear in mind that PPE falls into the last effort category in ‘controlling hazards’ (which will be covered in another article).

One obviously needs to balance the cost; versus the control that each item of PPE will offer…but at least ensure you’re using the right spec of protection; otherwise your efforts will be in vain and may even result in litigation of the responsible person – Mr. Employer!

What do I mean by “spec” of equipment?

Well, let’s look at a two, quick examples:

Respiratory protection
Without fail, almost every site I visit will have the incorrect spec of dust masks for those employees exposed to dry cement.

I’m not going to go into detail about occupational exposure limits, or brands of PPE – but suffice to say that some (even a small amount) of research goes a long way in finding the correct spec… FFP1 versus FFP2 (Google it). Procurement departments are often the weak link.

Many construction workers think they’re adequately protected, but may find out in time; that the FFP1 mask they were using doesn’t actually protect them against the hazards found in dry cement.
Employers should be wary of cutting costs up front, as the commissioner may come knocking with a bill your account; based on an ex-employees’ cancer treatment.

Hand protection

This is a common South African-‘ism’. Pride is one thing, but losing a finger, or being electrocuted is another thing altogether.
“We’re tough, we don’t need to wear gloves. Feel my skin, it’s like leather – all those scars show how hard I work.”

No, those scars could’ve led to more serious injuries, lowering your earning potential and possibly affecting your kids’ schooling.

There is no excuse for wearing incorrect or ill-fitting gloves. There are literally thousands of types, makes and materials available to suit every need. It just takes some research (which your safety department should be doing anyway), and proper planning.

I’ve spent some time on different sites, from Super Oil Tankers in the Mediterranean, to bridge repairs in one of the Californian National Parks.

There is no money spared in having the correct kit available for employees to work comfortably and safely – let alone showing them that are valued, which always leads to higher morale and greater production.

Conclusion:
Take the time, make the effort.
It’s a small investment in your employees, which will have great effect down the line…positive or negative, thankfully the choice is yours to make.

SHEQ Software

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SRM is ISO 9001: 2015 : ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certified.  Let us know if we can help you with the development and implementation of your Quality Management System.  Contact our consultants today