The Pandemic has made us think twice before going out. Even at our workplaces! Because, workplace can be hazardous for your employees, whether they work in an office, laboratory, or construction site. And as an employer, you are responsible for protecting your employees from workplace hazards. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as face masks and gloves, can be used to avoid interaction and infection. Let’s look at what PPE is and your employer’s responsibilities when it comes to PPE safety.
What is the role of Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing or gear (such as goggles) that employees wear to reduce the risk of injury or illness. If there is no pandemic, the workplaces would be sufficiently safe, and employees would not require additional protective equipment. But we all know that isn’t the case, which is where PPE comes in.
When work practices and administrative controls are insufficient, personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. Personal protective equipment adds another layer of protection against hazardous working conditions. PPE Distributors or PPE suppliers in the USA can help you avail the number of masks accordingly.
Varieties of Personal Protective Equipment
PPE doesn’t only mean wearing medically protective clothing. It does include face and eye protection too. Here is the extensive list of Personal Protective Equipment’s:
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Masks and face shields
- Earplugs
- Shoes for safety
- Coveralls
- Gowns
- Respirators
An employee may require types of personal protective equipment.
Reimbursement for PPE at workplaces
Employers must pay for PPE used by employees to meet OSHA standards. For PPE, you can use a reimbursement system. Employees can then purchase PPE on their own. Remember that you only have one pay period or billing cycle to reimburse the employee for PPE expenses.
Employees who voluntarily offer their PPE may also use it. You cannot compel them to use it instead of employer-provided equipment. And if the employee wants to use their protective kit, you must ensure that it is a suitable substitute.
Responsibilities of employer PPE
You may be wondering what else you need to do now that you know you’re responsible for funding your employees’ OSHA personal protective equipment.
The short answer is that you must complete all aspects of the PPE lifecycle. That means researching and determining what PPE your employees require. It also necessitates that you maintain the equipment and, if necessary, update it.
Here are your employer’s PPE commitments to follow.
Evaluate the risk
The first step is determining what employees need and what type of PPE employers must pay.
Utilize OSHA standards to conduct a thorough evaluation of your business. Lis the potential workplace safety issues and the equipment needed to protect employees.
Determine your PPE requirements
You know what types of PPE in the workplace you need to keep employees safe once you’ve identified potential hazards in your business.
Gather information from your employees, such as clothing size, before purchasing PPE. Again, personal protective equipment must be comfortable and properly fit each employee.
Determine whether employees must purchase PPE from specific companies if you set up a reimbursement system. Provide employees with a list of the PPE they will need to purchase. Share with them a list of places where they can buy the equipment. Or buy it from the PPE equipment suppliers in the USA for a genuine purchase.
Instruct your employee
So the next step is to train employees on usage and care for the equipment. If the employee must leave their PPE at work, provide instructions on what they must do after removing it.
Of course, using personal protective equipment does not always require a manual. Employees, for example, should understand how to put on goggles. However, you should instruct them when they must wear the equipment.
Overtake PPE
Replace the Personal protective equipment if it becomes worn or damaged. You are responsible for paying for replacements unless an employee loses or intentionally damages their equipment.
Don’t put off getting new equipment for too long. Worn PPE may not adequately protect employees from workplace hazards, potentially exposing you and your company to OSHA violations.
You should also keep track of the effectiveness of your company’s protective equipment.
Conduct routine maintenance and inspections
The need for continuous inspection of PPE is probably the most crucial aspect of maintenance. Assessments, if done correctly, will detect damaged or malfunctioning PPE before use. PPE that does not meet manufacturer specifications, such as eyewear with scratched lenses that has lost its ability to withstand impact, should be discarded.
Allow workers to obtain new PPE or replacement parts for damaged PPE and to assist them in keeping the PPE clean.
Wearing ill-maintained or malfunctioning PPE may be more dangerous than wearing no protection. Workers have a false sense of security and believe they are safe when, in fact, they are not.
Conclusion: As with any form of PPE, understanding the hazards and risk of exposure is critical to proper protective clothing selection and use. Source, modes of transmission, pressures, types of contact, and duration and type of tasks to be performed by the PPE user are all influential factors in assessing the risk of exposure in health facilities.
Frequently Asked Question
Q1.What is the distinction between a gown and a coverall?
Ans 1.Gowns are easier to put on and, more importantly, take off. Coveralls covers the entire body, including the back and lower legs, and sometimes the head and feet, and typically provide 360-degree protection.
Q2.What type of gown is advisable for patients with COVID-19?
Ans 2.Patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should wear non-sterile, disposable patient isolation gowns in routine patient care in healthcare settings.
Q3.How do I put my gown on (don) and take it off (doff)?
Ans 3.Ensure that your facility has instructions to put on and take off PPE. The procedure for donning and doffing PPE should be tailored to the specific type of PPE available.