PPE Guidelines: Health and Safety

Introduction

Sometimes the use of PPE, also known as personal protective equipment, becomes mandatory. It is used in hospitals, and many other professionals also need to wear it, including carpenters, gardeners, plumbers, and people at construction sites.

PPE protects the user against any health or safety risks. It includes helmets, goggles, gloves, safety harnesses, and safety footwear. A PPE management system is essential when you work at places that can cause you physical harm.

Why should you use PPE?

To make your workplace safe, there are a lot of measures which should be taken. It requires training, supervision, and procedures to ensure all the people working at a particular organization. Some hazards cannot be avoided even after employing all PPE management systems. They include:

• the head, for example, if something falls on you at a construction site.
• In the eyes, for example, some small particles or splashes of corrosive liquids might go in your eyes.
• your lungs, you might breathe in contaminated air
• your body, from extreme cold or scorching weather
• your skin, by coming in contact with harmful materials

In the cases mentioned above, PPE is required to save yourself from any safety hazards. Try to keep the usage of PPE as a last resort. Train your employees to use PPE if its use becomes inevitable. It is better to use a PPE, which is made according to every person’s measurements. Try not to use the same PPE every day as it will increase the risk of infections. 

Washing it with a bar of antibacterial soap is a good option when you don’t have enough PPE. Personal protective equipment management is crucial, and if there’s a need to use it, you should use it correctly. Make sure never to allow your workforce to take off their PPE even for some time as this will increase the risks of physical harm without knowing.

Maintenance of PPE

Maintaining the hygiene of a PPE is vital when you use this protective equipment. Make sure to keep them in a clean, dry place. Although it is reusable, keeping it clean is essential.

• Make sure to replace the parts with the right products.
• Make one person responsible for its hygiene.
• Keep extra PPE available at all times.
• Keep some PPE to be used only for jobs, which will make the PPE dirty. Try to wash it right away.
• Put signs of the importance of PPE’s to make sure all your workforce is aware of its importance and keep them on at all times.

COVID-19 and PPE

As we all know, COVID-19 is on the rise throughout the world. It is vital to take steps and measures to avoid the spread of this virus. We also need to take special care of the frontline workers working day and night to prevent the spread of this deadly virus.

Some measures are essential to protect the workforce from SARS-CoV-2, also known as Coronavirus (COVID-19), to reduce infection risk and avoid it from spreading. Some general guidance which the workers should follow are:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not washed.
• Wash your hand frequently for 20 seconds with soap; if the soap is not available, use a hand sanitizer often.
• Stay home if you are unwell.
• Cover your face when you cough or sneeze.
• Also, avoid coming into contact with people who are feeling sick.

Covering ourselves well is the need of the time now. All the hospital workers should ensure PPE’s use and follow the guideline given by their hospitals as this is the only way to fight the virus. Covering our faces, wearing gloves, and avoiding contact with people who have ful0like symptoms is the only cure right now till a new vaccine is found. 

After using a PPE, all healthcare professionals should shower and dispose of the PPE right away. It will lead to a decrease in the spread of the virus. Also, make sure to contact your loved ones before you come in to change your clothes and soak them in an anti-bacterial liquid before washing them. 

The correct way to wear your PPE is as follows:

• Wash your hands
• Wear your gown/apron
• Surgical mask
• Eye protection. You can either wear goggles or a face shield.
• Gloves

Follow these steps when taking your PPE off:

• Takes your gloves off first
• Wash your hands
• Take off your eye protection
• Then your gown
• Wash your hands again
• Now take off your mask
• Lastly, don’t forget to wash your hands.

By following these small steps, you will ensure yourselves and your loved ones’ safety and help them stay protected from this virus.