You, of course, know that you need to have the correct personal protective equipment when handling risky or hazardous tasks. The type of equipment you wear will depend on the work you are handling and can include safety helmets, hearing protective devices, fall arrest harnesses, respiratory protective equipment, footwear, face and eye protective devices, visibility clothing and skin protection. Note some crucial areas you need to be keen on when it comes to your safety wear.

Inspection and Maintenance of Safety Wear

You should always inspect all safety wear before use and when they are in storage. What are you looking for? Look for any signs of breakage or damage. If there are these signs, can they be repaired or will you need to replace the device or equipment? You should also look out for equipment that has completed its useful lifespan, which includes checking the expiry dates. Contamination can also occur to some safety wear and this should be checked.

Maintenance mainly includes some inspection tasks and cleaning. After cleaning the devices, make sure the storage area is also clean. Maintenance should be done by qualified people who can follow the manufacturer's instructions. Additionally, the worker wearing the personal protective equipment should also be trained on how to check for faulty equipment and devices. This is important just in case a faulty device passes through unnoticed or a good device gets damaged in the field.

The Issue of Shared Safety Wear

It is not wrong to share safety wear as long as they are cleaned and disinfected after every use. You may be protecting yourself from a hazardous environment but forget you can acquire some health issues from your fellow worker. Also, if the particular safety wear is meant to be used once and then disposed of, don't try to reuse it.

The Worker

When all equipment has been considered safe for use, you need to consider the worker. Start with the size of the equipment and whether it will fit the worker. Not only should the equipment or device fit but the worker should also be comfortable.

You also need to consider the health of the worker. Is he or she allergic to some materials like latex? The workers should have submitted their health records, but before safety wear use, a good employer should always ask if anyone has any medical conditions.

Apart from knowing that it is important to have safety wear when handling risky jobs, it is equally more important to note the above factors.

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