TEST AND EVALUATE BEFORE YOU BUY

Once you've analyzed your hazards, determined what type of PPE you need, evaluated designs, performance features, and comfort levels of the products, talked with your supplier partner about value added services, and estimated the ROI impact on your business, there is still one more step in the process. On the job testing and evaluation.


A PPE brands literature will tell you the basics about it. Your supplier partner will tell you a great deal more. But nothing will tell you as much as an on-the-job, under your working conditions, test and evaluation of any PPE you may be considering.

 A good supplier partner will make samples available and will work with you to set up meaningful tests and evaluations. The process should begin with a job site "walk through" consisting of the company Safety Official, the plant manager, and the supplier partner representative plus any others involved in the PPE buying decision. The walk through lets all involved see the work stations, observe the hazards, see what PPE is in use, see if it is being worn and worn correctly, and listen to any complaints the workforce has about what they have been issued.

 During the post walk through meeting, any deficiencies, problems or concerns observed become things that are tested and evaluated for improvement. The reason new PPE is being purchased is to upgrade and improve current conditions. Therefore, the test and evaluation of the new PPE should be specifically to see if it does indeed solve problems and improve upon what has been used.

 Doing a general "do you like it better" evaluation will not really tell you what you need to know. But suppose workers have not been wearing their PPE because it is "too uncomfortable". Testing for improved comfort would be a specific part of your evaluation. Pointing out the things that make the new PPE more comfortable, along with anything else you want to specifically evaluate is critical. The workers have to know why their PPE is being changed, what the benefits to them are, how the new PPE works, and what the company is asking them to evaluate.

 During most on-the-job evaluations, actual accidents may not occur, so it is important to explain the higher performance expectations in detail. But improved fitting and comfort are things a worker can actually experience during the evaluation. Again, general question like "did it feel better" will not tell you what you need to know. But questions like, "were you able to make more adjustments for an exact fit and feel?; were you able to center your head deeper in the shell for a low center of gravity, better balance and stability?" will tell you if the features you are investing in are actually being experienced or perceived by your workforce.

 A very effective technique is to gather the employees participating in the test and evaluation and do a "side-by-side" comparison between what they are using and the higher quality, upgraded PPE you are investing in for them. Compare feature by feature and benefit by benefit and show exactly what you are asking them to evaluate. Use your supplier partner and/or the brand manufacturer trainers to help you with this. There is no greater employee "buy-in" then a successful on-the-job test and evaluation.

 Any supplier can make any claim they want about their products. But only the top quality brands suppliers are willing to show you how their products perform on your job, under your working conditions and with your employees. Make an on-the-job evaluation the final step in your PPE Buying Decision Process.