Search

Why Common Sense Won’t Help with PPE

Posted on 6/13/2017 by Roger Marks

Safety managers in every industry share one goal: to send workers home safe at the end of the day—every day.

In workplaces nationwide, employees perform jobs every day that put them in danger. When these job hazards can’t be substituted, mitigated, or eliminated completely, the last line of defense is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).


Trust “Common Sense” at Your Own Risk

Selecting and using personal protective equipment may seem like “common sense,” but safety professionals know that when it comes to safety, common sense isn’t so common.

To avoid on-the-job injuries that cost US businesses billions every month, employees must know not only when they need PPE, but how to make sure it fits, how to use it, how to care for it, and its limitations.

That’s why OSHA requires training for EVERY employee who’s required to wear PPE as part of the job. [29 CFR 1910.132(f)]


Gloves—What Could Be Simpler?

Something as simple as putting on gloves raises safety questions that go far beyond what “common sense” would dictate.

gloves2.jpgEmployees must choose the right gloves—do they need chemical-resistant material? Do their hands need protection from machinery, from puncture hazards, or from biohazards from medical sharps? Do they need protection from extreme heat or cold? How far up the arm should the gloves go for this particular job? 

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) gloves are water soluble, which means they are not suitable for jobs that involve water or certain alcohols. If an employee puts on PVA gloves for a wet job, they won’t offer much protection. If these gloves are rinsed with water to “wash” them, they will be damaged beyond repair.

The same goes for other forms of PPE—from simple items like helmets and boots to half-face and full-face respirators, face shields, safety glasses and goggles, and much more. To protect themselves and their co-workers from injuries and lost time, employees need more than “common sense.” They need all the information they can get about how to select, use, and care for the PPE that protects them every day.


New! Convenient, Effective PPE Online Course—Only $29  

Be confident your employees know how to assess hazards at work and select the right PPE for every dangerous job. This 60-minute online course covers what employees need to know to stay protected from head to toe. This online course will satisfy OSHA’s PPE training requirement for employees at 29 CFR 1910.132(f). Plus, your employees will get 3 months of Lion Membership for fast answers to their questions, access to exclusive safety resources, and more. Learn more or sign up now at Lion.com.
 

Tags: osha, PPE, workplace safety

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

Lion was very extensive. There was a lot of things that were covered that were actually pertaining to what I do and work with. Great Job. I will be coming back in three years!

Tony Petrik

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Attending Lion Technology classes should be mandatory for every facility that ships or stores hazmat.

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

Excellent class, super instructor, very easy to follow. No rushing through material. Would like to take his class again.

Lawrence Patterson

EH&S Facility Maintenance & Security Manager

This training broke down the regulations in an easy-to-understand manner and made them less overwhelming. I now feel I have the knowledge to make more informed decisions.

Amanda Oswald

Shipping Professional

I tried other environmental training providers, but they were all sub-standard compared to Lion. I will not stray from Lion again!

Sara Sills

Environmental Specialist

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

This is the best RCRA training I've experienced! I will be visiting Lion training again.

Cynthia L. Logsdon

Principal Environmental Engineer

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

What to do before, during, and after a RCRA hazardous waste inspection to defend your site from rising State and Federal penalties.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.