What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment, which is also known as PPE is an important equipment worn to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep the medical staff such as doctors, nurses, other nursing staff who currently at the frontline of epidemics safe.
However, do you know that besides from preventing coronavirus, PPE is also an equipment to minimize the risk of serious injury and illness in the workplace? Therefore, PPE is also suitable for those workers who work in a high risk environment. Personal protective equipment may include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or earmuffs, hard hats, respirators or work clothes, vests and full body clothes.
Why PPE is important?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing or equipment designed to reduce employees’ exposure to chemical, biological, and physical hazards in the workplace. It can be used to protect employees when the risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level through engineering and administrative control. PPE is very important as it is the last defence against occupational injury, illness and death. Some companies combine it with other control measures to ensure the safety and health of workers.
PPE Category
Face and Eye Protection
Face and eye protection PPE include goggles and face shields that should be used for tasks that may cause eye damage or loss of vision, spray toxic liquids, splashes and burns.
For examples:
Face shield and safety goggles.
Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection equipment includes full-face respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, N95 respirators, and surgical masks which are used for tasks that may cause inhalation of harmful substances into the human body. This includes harmful gases, chemicals, large particle droplets, sprays and splashes that may contain viruses and bacteria.
For instance, N95 respirators and 3-ply masks which are commonly worn by heavy industry workers and food industry workers.
Body Protection
Body protection PPE includes safety vests and protective clothing which can be used for tasks that may cause bodily injury due to extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bites and radiation.
For examples, flame retardant coverall that protects workers from flash fire or electric arc fire and disposable PE aprons that are common among food and health industries.
Hand Protection
Hand protection PPE includes safety gloves which can be used for tasks that may cause burns to the hands and skin, absorption of harmful substances, cuts, fractures, or amputations.
For instance, nitrile gloves – worn by various industries and cut resistant gloves, which function to prevent cut injuries.
Foot Protection
Foot protection PPE consists of safety boots which are used for tasks that may cause serious foot and leg injuries due to falling or rolling objects, hot materials, electrical hazards, and smooth surfaces.
For example, safety shoes and chemical resistant boots.
PPE amid Coronavirus breakout
Personal protective equipment is a barrier between a person’s skin, mouth, nose or eyes and viral and bacterial infections. In the case of COVID-19 which mainly spreading from person to person through close contact and droplets rather than air. Therefore PPE are extremely essential for those frontliners to prevent themselves from being infected by coronavirus especially doctors and nurses as they often need to maintain a close relationship with the patient for a long time.
PPE that can be used for prevent Coronavirs:
- Masks
- Respirators
- Gloves
- Gowns
- Goggles
- Aprons
- Boots
Safetyware provide a wide range of PPE which can be used for prevent Coronavirus, you can always contacts us to find out more.
Overall
It is important to know what type of PPE you need for the process you perform and use it correctly. For further details, feel free to visit our website or contact with us.
