Ergonomics “Personal Protective Equipment”
Ergonomics “Personal Protective Equipment” is defined as any form of equipment, apparatus, or device used in the workplace for protection against hazardous circumstances that may arise daily. Ergonomic PPE has been designed to provide adequate safety and health standards for employees and aid them with improved performance.
With an increase in industrialized countries adopting new legislations accompanied by the popularity of having higher ergonomically-friendly work environments, understanding what kinds of “ergonomics Personal Protective Equipment” are available can be beneficial when looking to equip your team with the necessary tools needed to stay secure while working more efficiently. In this blog post, we will cover everything you should know about ergonomic “personal protective equipment” and go over some helpful examples so you can ensure that your company offers its staff members appropriate items necessary for their job responsibilities.
Ergonomic PPE is comprised of items such as safety glasses, protective gloves, hard hats, and other apparel; these tools are specifically designed to protect the body from potential hazards that may arise in the workplace. It ensures that proper posture is maintained when working, which helps reduce fatigue and any potential injuries caused by a hazardous environment. Moreover, ergonomic PPE also helps ensure that workplace output is at its highest potential by providing comfort and reducing strain on the body. Lastly, having adequate safety regulations in place can help increase productivity by eliminating the fear of an unexpected incident.
When considering the different types of “ergonomics Personal Protective Equipment” available for your team, it is important to look into the standards mandated by your specific industry. Depending on the type of work being done and its level of risk, certain requirements may be necessary for compliance with safety regulations. In addition, it is also important to consider the size and fit when deciding which items are best suited for each employee to ensure maximum comfort and performance.
Examples of ergonomic PPE
Examples of ergonomic PPE include anti-fatigue mats, which are ideal for workers who are standing or walking on hard surfaces for long periods; protective eyewear, such as safety glasses or goggles, to help protect against topically hazardous materials; and noise-reducing headphones or earplugs to help limit any potential hearing damage from noisy work environments. Additionally, wrist and elbow supports can be beneficial for workers who are typing or using their hands for extended periods, helping to reduce the strain on the joints.
Personal Protective Equipment
Safety gear, or personal protective equipment (PPE), includes gloves, knee and elbow pads, footwear, and other items that employees wear.
- Gloves can protect hands from cold or injury. However, gloves may decrease manual dexterity and make it harder to grip if they do not fit correctly. Wear good-fitting thermal gloves to help with cold conditions while maintaining the ability to grasp items quickly.
- Proper footwear and antifatigue soles can prevent employees from slipping and prevent fatigue from long hours of standing on hard surfaces.
- Knee and elbow pads can protect the body from pressure points when pressing against hard or sharp surfaces.
Back Belts
Back belts are not typically considered to be personal protective equipment. They may help maintain the proper curvature of the spine during lifting or physical exertion and provide comfort and confidence while performing work tasks. However, you can’t lift heavier loads just because you wear a back belt. If you use them all-day-every-day, your back muscles may get weaker.
Prioritize Your Work
You may want to choose specific improvement options in your workplace. Setting your priorities will help you identify which tasks you want to work on first. To do that, conduct ergonomics job hazard analyses (JHA) of hazardous tasks. JHAs focus on the following:
- Worker variables (fitness, age)
- Types of work (e.g., roofing, sheetrock, framing), and
To determine which tasks you want to address first, consider the following:
- The work environment (e.g., lighting, cold exposures).
- Frequency and severity of complaints, symptoms, and injuries.
- Contributing factors or other problems you have identified in a particular task.
- Ideas your employees have for improvements.
- The difficulty of implementing various improvements.
- Your time frame for making improvements.
- Potential effects on productivity, efficiency, and product or service quality.
- Technical and financial resources at your disposal.
