Understanding How Crucial is Protective Workwear Clothing
Protective or safety clothing is any garment designed to increase the safety & well-being of the wearer. The right personal protective clothing will reduce the risk of accident & employee injury. For any clothing item to be considered PPE, it must first correctly fit to protect a certain body part. And next, the garment should be selected for its ability to protect against the type of hazards present, such as electrical, chemical, biological, heat/fire, or physical. And finally, the protective workwear clothing must be strong enough to act in one of the three ways:
- Acting as a total barrier against infiltration of harmful substances
- If infiltration does occur, it should reduce the extent of injuries from serious to minor
- Protecting workers long enough for them to escape the area or the hazard
Read on to understand more about protective clothing and why it is so crucial.
Protection from Chemical Processes
Many organizations use strong chemicals during their manufacturing processes that require chemical protective suits to minimize the risk of exposure. Manufacturers of detergents, fertilizer, dyes, light bulbs, metals refining & plastics processing are just a few of the many industries that use some very strong & toxic chemicals. Protection from these chemical processes can be complex. Moreover, these chemicals are sometimes in solid or liquid form and also release toxic gases, which can affect workers in multiple ways such as inhalation, ingestion, direct skin contact, or by way of splashing into the mouth or eyes. For these reasons, workers working with them will require full protection from chemicals. Whenever workers are around harmful chemicals, an employer must provide eye protection such as face shields or goggles, along with chemical protective suits to protect the worker’s skin.
Disposable FR Clothing for Burn Hazards
Flame-resistant (FR) clothing plays an important role in protecting employees working under conditions where there are chances of sparks, embers, flame, or flash fire. Welders, cooks & grill masters, iron & steel mills, electrical utilities, and certain manufacturing processes that use furnaces or boilers typically present a heat or fire hazard to workers.
Disposable flame-resistant clothing can provide layered protection of primary FR garments for certain industries, while in other cases, the FR clothing coverall is worn with the normal workwear uniform. FR clothing is designed in such a manner that it self-extinguishes once it has been removed from the source of the fire. Instead of catching fire & bursting into flames, it gives the worker enough time to recognize the fire & make a quick escape.
PPE for Remediation Service Workers
Biological & health hazards are the main concerns for workers that work at removing lead paint, asbestos, mold, waste & clean-up, and for restoration workers that help to rebuild communities after heavy storms or floods. It is impossible to control the hazards that may exist in such types of conditions. Any biological or chemical exposure at these contaminated sites can cause various health issues.
Therefore, to keep workers safe from dangerous particles or waste material, it is important to use protective workwear clothing designed to put a barrier between the worker & substances that can lead to health problems. These PPE clothing will provide physical protection against toxic chemicals, mold spores, liquids, and particulates.
Moreover, OSHA’s safety standards make it imperative for companies working under various industries to follow the safety guidelines to keep their employees safe. Any organization that fails to do so may land up in legal trouble and heavy fines. Therefore, it is important to understand the safety requirements for your industry and make sure that your employees are well protected against potential risks.
