Why Usage Of Safety Equipment Is Important At Workplace

Safety during work is the primary concern in any industrial environment for both employees and employers. Adequate usage of safety equipment at a workplace provides additional protection to employees in the presence of a slew of other safety measures. Common safety equipment in many workplaces comprises of gloves, safety helmets, glasses/goggles, safety boots, hearing protectors, respirators and high-visibility clothing like reflector jackets that are worn usually in construction sites. There are also many special safety items available for specific workplaces, such as those using UV or infra-red light or radiation.

List of Different Kinds of Risk Associated at WorkPlace Without The Use of Safety Helmets

Even when the prospects of hazards at workplaces are tried to be eliminated as much as possible, risks may still seep in. These risks include damage to the head, feet or any other part of the body from flying or falling objects or from corrosive chemicals such as acids. Even protection against ergonomic hazards is necessary since they occur when you’re forced to work in a position that causes a great deal of strain. For example, jobs that require frequent lifting or working in poor lighting conditions.

Other physical hazards include frayed cords, shoddy ladder work, spills, exposed sharp moving parts and even constant loud noise. Your eyes may also be at unwarranted risk from dust and other dubious particles, molten metal splashes, or even from liquid (mainly harmful chemical/acid) splashes. Other hazards may include gaseous threats like carbon monoxide and in other cases gasoline, flammable materials, etc.

Working for long hours in extreme weather conditions like a hot or cold environment can increase the risk of injury tenfold and safety equipment such as aluminized gloves are critical in protecting the hands from the wrath of extreme temperature.

Before choosing or closing in on any kind of safety equipment, it is pertinent to consider whether it is suitable for the job, whether it offers the right level of comfort with protection and what training and maintenance are required for its effective usage. It is often said that employees or the end-users should select their own equipment rather than managers, as this ensures that equipment fits properly and is not too heavy or lacking comfort.

Storing and Maintaining Equipment

Safety equipment needs to meet storage constraints correctly when it’s not put in to use. It needs a constant check on being kept clean and in good working condition, or else it may run the risk of getting obsolete in no time. One efficient measure would be to nominate individuals who are assigned responsibility for regularly checking the equipment’s safety.

Apart from providing the right safety equipment to help minimize risks, employees need cohesive and comprehensive training to ensure that they use safety equipment properly in their respective workplaces. Nevertheless, along with proper training, policies, and labeling, safety equipment is the best way to avoid workplace injury.

Most Commonly Used Safety Equipment at WorkPlace

What equipment is necessary depends on the nature of the job. Here’s a lowdown of the most commonly used safety equipment harnessed at the workplace-:

#1) Protective Clothing

It includes items like safety jackets, safety shoes, etc. that is made from material that offers protection against chemical splashes, asbestos, grease, etc.. This sort of clothing is designed for auto workers, construction workers, chemists and any other industry that exposes you to potential hazards.

#2) Safety Gloves

These gloves are designed to protect workers from getting in direct contact with harmful substances through their skin or sustaining a hand injury. Types of work gloves include industrial safety work gloves, rubber gloves for handling chemicals, and Kevlar gloves for construction and protection from abrasions.

#3) Safety Spectacles

These items are designed to protect employees’ eyes from dangerous debris or infectious material. There are many types of eye protection available out there in the market, which includes glasses, goggles, face shields, and visors, etc. solely depending on the varied types of work conditions.

All in all, it’s safe to say that even when utmost care is being taken to protect from harm, there is always a safety risk to employees. Employees need to be made aware of the importance of safety at the workplace, and its great worthwhile benefits not only to them but also to the overall productivity at the workplace.