WHY WEAR PPE?
You?re a safe worker. You?re careful. You don?t make mistakes. Do you really need your PPE?
The answer is YES for 3 good reasons:
- No matter how careful you are, the unexpected sometimes happens?or somebody else could make a mistake.
- PPE is designed by experts to protect you against specific hazards by forming a barrier between you and the
hazard. - Because it?s the law.
Make sure that your PPE does its job and always protects you by correctly identifying hazards and selecting
appropriate PPE.
Here?s what you need to know about personal protective equipment (PPE):
1. PPE provides a personal barrier between you and job hazards when those hazards cannot be eliminated by other
means.
2. Without assigned PPE you have no defense against work hazards and are at greater risk of being injured or
becoming sick.
Check for these potential hazards:
Falling objects Electrical shocks and burns
Dropping objects Slips, trips, and falls
Sharp objects Extreme temperatures
Rolling or pinching objects Light radiation
Chemical exposure Falls from heights
Excessive noise Harmful dust
Select PPE that:
Protects against identified hazards
Meets the safety standards
Provides more than minimum required protection
Protects against multiple hazards
Fits correctly (full coverage and comfort)
Has been inspected to ensure good condition
o Look for holes, tears, cracks, dents, wear, or other problems.
o Replace worn, damaged, defective PPE immediately.
When necessary is removed and disposed of safely:
o Remove PPE from the top down, wearing gloves to protect your skin.
o Grasp contaminated gloves on the inside and peel down without touching the outside.
o Place contaminated PPE in designated containers.
o Wash thoroughly after removing PPE.
?If you’re in charge and you stop rowing, don’t be surprised if the rest of your crew stops too.? unknown
