According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many
workers who sustain on-the-job injuries admit to not wearing personal
protective equipment (PPE). Often, workers believe PPE is uncomfortable,
unnecessary or unavailable, and these attitudes can result in more
serious injuries. For the national launch of its Cintas Safety Center, a
PPE cabinet coupled with a managed program, Cintas
Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS), a leading provider of on-site first aid
and safety products and training solutions, today identified seven
strategies for improving PPE performance.
“PPE protects workers from a wide variety of job hazards and keeps
organizations in compliance with safety regulations,” said Jay Bruscato,
Vice President of First Aid and Safety, Cintas. “However, being over
protected is just as hazardous as being under protected. Organizations
should partner with a safety provider that can provide samples, help
with PPE selection and ensure PPE best practices are followed.”
Seven recommendations for improving PPE performance include:
1. Keep PPE in a central location – Organizations should
invest in a PPE cabinet that keeps an adequate supply of high-quality
head-to-toe solutions well organized and centrally located within the
workplace. The cabinet should be part of a managed program with a safety
provider so that organizations can easily adjust the type and amount of
PPE delivered as employee count, job responsibilities and hazards
change. A PPE program also ensures that protective equipment is always
available and well-maintained to encourage proper use.
2. Ensure ear plugs fit correctly and comfortably –
Employees are less likely to wear hearing protection if it is
uncomfortable. Organizations should have ear plugs available in various
sizes and allow workers to get fitted to ensure that they fit properly
and comfortably.
3. Offer anti-fog eye protection – In high-humidity
environments or when dealing with sudden environmental changes, eye
protection can fog up, reducing visibility at crucial moments.
Organizations should make sure anti-fog eye protection is part of their
PPE inventory to reduce employees’ frustration and increase their use of
protection in hazardous situations.
4. Match gloves to hazards and seasons – Organizations
need to have hand protection that is well matched with the tasks
employees will be performing, the conditions of the work and the
duration of use. Employees also need to use different gloves in the
winter than in the summer. Safety managers will want to consider gloves
made from leather, canvas and coated fabric, as well as options that are
rubber-insulated and chemical and liquid-resistant.
5. Check protective apparel for imperfections – Protective
apparel keeps workers safe from electrical arc flashes that result in
serious burns. Organizations should work with a safety provider that
will regularly check the condition of protective apparel as it is
restocked so that torn fabric on vests, tops and pants can be spotted
before they are worn.
6. Provide hard hats in a variety of types and classes –
Different hard hats offer varying levels of protection. Organizations
need to select from types that provide protection from blows to the top
of the head (Type I) or the top and sides (Type II). Class G helmets can
withstand 2,200 volts, Class E can withstand 20,000 volts and are ideal
for electrical work, and Class C does not provide electrical insulation.
Workers should know when to use each type and class.
7. Offer safety training to supplement PPE use –
Protective apparel and ear, eye, head and hand protection are only
effective when the wearer is knowledgeable and responsible about the
equipment. Employees should complete training courses that highlight job
hazards, the importance of PPE and how to best wear it. Wearing too much
PPE can cause heat stress, while not enough can lead to cold stress in
certain conditions or exposure to hazards such as arc flash and hearing
loss.
Cintas offers a variety of proactive and reactive safety solutions, from
proactive PPE in the Cintas Safety Center to reactive AED and first-aid
programs. For more information, visit www.cintas.com/safe.
About Cintas Corporation:
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly
specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout
North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate
identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning
and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid,
safety, fire protection products and services and document management
services for more than 1 million businesses. Cintas is a publicly held
company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol
CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Copyright Business Wire 2014