PPE: Getting Back to the Basics

Zero harm. With fatalities having been at a record low for workers in 2014. South Africa’s mining sector is well on its way to achieving this goal. We thought we’d help the journey along with a quick PPE refresher.

What is PPE? The basics of safety workwear

Short for personal protective equipment, PPE refers to anything that is used or worn by a person, as well as procedures, to minimise health and safety risks. These include, but are not limited to, high visibility clothing, hard hats, gloves and goggles. We require PPE when we cannot eliminate hazards in the workplace.

Types of PPE

Head – To avoid injuries caused by common hazards like falling or flying objects, hair entanglement in machinery, and chemical drips or splash.

Eyes and Face – To protect workers’ eyes and faces from chemical exposure, bio hazardous or metal splash, flying objects, dust, gas, vapour, radiation and other hazards.

Hands and Arms – To protect the hands and arms against abrasions, cuts, burns, etc.

Feet – To avoid injuries caused by falling or rolling objects, stepping on sharp objects or slippery and/or uneven surfaces.

Hearing – To prevent hearing loss as a result of potentially damaging noise levels.

Respiratory – To protect workers from inhaling compromised air – i.e. oxygen-deficient and/or contaminated areas.

Fall Arrest – Equipment that prevents injury due to falls, like safety harnesses.

The Benefits of PPE

Apart from preventing accidents and illness amongst workers, PPE also can be advantageous in the following ways…

Productivity – Workers that wear the right gear for the task at hand will perform better. This will also increase comfort, boost staff morale, reduce the amount of sick leave taken and lower staff turnover.

Compliance – Will go a long way in helping you avoid prosecution. And subsequently, shutting down operations altogether.

Image – PPE can also improve the image customers have of a company – whether they’re a serious and trustworthy player or not.

ROI – Proper use of PPE can offer a high return on investment as far as increasing productivity and reducing costly lawsuits and worker compensation.

Let’s all adopt Chamber of Mines South Africa’s zero harm principle and ensure all our workers – no matter the industry – return home unharmed every day.