Table of Content
- What is Safety Equipment?
- Why is Safety Equipment important?
- Types of Safety Equipment
- How to Choose the Right Safety Equipment?
- Emerging Technologies Improving Safety in the workplace
- FAQ
What is Safety Equipment?
There are many jobs out there that require people to work in dangerous conditions. For example, working at a construction site. There are so many dangerous lingering that one small mistake could result in a huge loss. This is where safety equipment comes into the picture. In general, safety gear is the protection that employees use to prevent accidents, fatalities, life-threatening situations, etc.
Why is Safety Equipment important?
Safety equipment is made to protect you from dangerous situations that may arise at your workplace. It protects the health and safety of the employees in the workplace. There is a lot of equipment that protects different things. Generally, safety tools aid in reducing injuries among workers and employers alike.
For example, safety goggles protect your eyes, and safety footwear protects your feet. A trustworthy brand to buy safety equipment from is very important. As a result, RP Comtrade is the ideal place to purchase your safety equipment. At RP Comtrade, we care about your safety and offer only our very best products.
Read More; Types of Industrial Personal Protective Equipment
Types of Safety Equipment
Protection of face
This is very important, especially if you work with chemicals, gases, or other substances that can harm the eyes or face. You must ensure a tight fit and complete coverage of the face so that nothing can pass through.
Protection of ear
There are three types of hearing protection.
- Earmuffs/defenders that fully enclose the ear.
- Ear plugs are put inside the ear canal.
- Semi inserts (also canal caps) that cover the outside (entrance) of the ear canal.
Anyone who might be subjected to noise at or above the Exposure Action Level must wear hearing protection.
Protection of head
Head protection is very necessary. Especially in jobs where heavy objects could fall or collide with the head. Generally, there are three types of head protection.
- Industrial safety helmets (hard hats) are designed to protect workers from falling objects or swinging objects.
- Industrial headgear known as bump caps is for preventing knocking against stationary objects.
- Headwear or hair nets that prevent tangles.
Protection of eye
There are several types of eye protection.
Safety glasses: these resemble regular glasses but have a lens that is more durable; they can also come with side shields for additional protection.
Eye shield: a one-piece, frameless lens that is frequently worn over prescription eyeglasses.
Safety goggles: They have elastic headbands and flexible plastic frames.
Face shields: Even though they are heavier and bulkier than other eye protection options, face shields protect the face but don’t completely cover the eye, so they don’t protect from dust, gases, fumes, or mists.
How to Choose the Right Safety Equipment?
The requirements for safety equipment differ from person to person. However, there are certain factors that can help you figure out the right safety equipment.
Examine your job requirements
You need to understand the dangers that your job poses before selecting PPE. For example, if you deal with gases or chemicals and need to protect your face/eyes. Or if you work in slippery areas and need safety shoes et
Equipment with PPE Safety Certification
Always make sure that the PPE equipment your manufacturer or supplier sells has the right certification. Especially look for the mark of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to see if something has been certified.
Quality of the equipment
It is important to choose PPE that is designed and made to high standards. Employees are more likely to wear their safety gear if it fits well and is comfortable. Also, equipment must protect against certain risks in the right way. For instance, RP Comtrade’s leather gloves offer both great quality and a great price.
Price of the equipment
Even though the price is always important, don’t buy something just because it’s cheap. You should keep in mind that cheap does not always imply high quality. More often than not, PPE and safety gear that cost less were made with less care or to lower standards. It’s better to choose PPE based on how it fits, how well it protects, how long it lasts, and how comfortable it is to wear.
Read More; The Importance of Construction Safety Equipment: Protecting Workers on the Job Site
Emerging Technologies Improving Safety in the workplace
Robotics
Robotics is still a big part of almost every aspect of an employee’s work environment. It can make workers less likely to have injuries from things that cause them. As a result, careful planning is essential for worker safety.
Vehicle Improvements
A study found that work-related vehicle accidents are the main cause of lost time and the leading cause of workplace deaths. New technologies in vehicles are helping to change the way people drive. Hence, this makes it possible to keep track of unsafe actions and record information that can be used in management meetings.
Guarding of machinery
Using light curtains, lasers, and pressure-sensitive mats has made a big difference in how safe workers are. Previously, machine guarding, or “pullbacks,” was the standard way to keep employees from getting hurt by power presses. Workers can now do their jobs more easily because of new technologies.
Office Setting
Adjustable workstations and chairs have come a long way because people work at computers for longer periods of time. Moreover, sit-stand workstations are now affordable and have been shown to be good for employees’ health.
Training
As the average age of workers rises, training methods must change to keep the attention of younger workers. Chiefly, Virtual Reality/3D training, gamer apps, and AI make learning more engaging, the workplace safer, and retention rates higher. These tools can simulate dangerous work situations, allowing employees to train without risking injury.
FAQ
1, Why is it important to maintain safety equipment?
In this high-risk environment, employees can protect themselves with proper safety gear.
2, What are the industrial safety rules?
- Don’t use equipment without permission.
- Avoid disabling safety devices.
- Avoid using broken or unsafe tools.
- Do not work in hazardous areas without permission.
3, What are the 5 principles of safety?
- Engagement & Commitment
- EHS Management System
- Risk Management
- Organizational Competence
- Learning Organization
