PPE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk Management, the corner stone of any safety program, is a systematic approach to minimizing an organization's exposure to risk, lessening the negative effect of risk, and avoiding risk altogether if possible. Providing PPE is often considered a risk management strategy, but there are hidden layers of risk inherent in a PPE program that are frequently overlooked.

Failure to work through a rigorous PPE Buying Decision Process, using the OSHA recommended process as the foundation, runs the risk of providing inadequate or inappropriate PPE. Remember, 60% of those injured on the job were wearing the PPE they were supplied. The risk of that happening can be greatly reduced with an improved PPE Buying Decision Process. (See prior posts for details). Because there is a structured PPE Buying Decision Process readily available, failure to use it is taking a risk.

Buying cheap PPE that has to be assembled by the user, especially head protection, introduces the risk that the PPE will not be assembled correctly and its protective properties will be compromised. Quality PPE comes from the factory fully assembled by trained factory experts. Every component of a protective cap must be assembled correctly in order for the complex impact energy control process to function properly. If the suspension is installed incorrectly by a user, and it can be something as simple as not seating a suspension leg fully in its pocket, nobody knows it and the wearer is at a high risk of injury if an accident happens. Because there is top quality, high performance protective caps available, failure to use them is taking a risk.

Failure to consider the “human” side of PPE, the need for comfort, adjustability, and style, is very risky because it is the primary reason PPE is not worn. 40% of injured workers were not wearing the PPE they were supplied. The leading reasons were that it was “too hot, too heavy, didn’t fit, kept them from doing their jobs and looked weird”. This usually occurs when PPE is bought on purchase price alone. The leading brands of PPE contain adjustability features for a perfect fit and feel. They are ergonomically designed for proper balance and stability. They have clean, sleek designs that provide a professional look. Because top quality PPE is available in every category, failure to use it is taking a risk.

Quality Head Protection

Not taking the time to develop a store of knowledge about the different PPE designs, materials, and levels of performance is risky. You should know that injection molded, preformed faceshield windows eliminate the risks of distortion, potential weak spots, and poor faceshield/window seal that are present in flat windows stamped from sheet stock. You should know the risks associated with hard hat accessory mounting slots. You should know the risks of inferior auto darkening filter lenses that don’t always work how they should when they should. There are many more examples. The information is available from suppliers, OSHA, NIOSH and other sources. Failure to do your homework puts you at great risk of using PPE that is inadequate for your hazards.

Providing PPE to employees is a basic risk management strategy. But providing the wrong PPE for the wrong reasons could be exposing workers to unnecessary risks. If there is a better alternative to what you are doing or what you are using, and you fail to utilize it for any reason, you are taking a risk.