The importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) management procedures
Workplace accidents show the importance of protection and prevention in the workplace. Employers have a responsibility to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) when there is a risk to the health and safety of employees that cannot be controlled by other means.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect employees from hazards that may threaten their health and safety. For example: helmets, safety glasses and safety boots are designed to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
It is important to remember that this equipment is protection. They reduce the risk, but they do not eliminate the hazard. They should be used as a last line of defense.
Legal obligations
Employers must take the necessary measures to protect the health and safety of workers. Therefore, they must provide workers with free personal protective equipment that is:
- Appropriate to the risks to be prevented
periodically checked
- Changed after the expiration date
- Accompanied by instructions for use and a certificate of conformity
- Properly maintained and stored
PPE compliance procedures
To ensure optimal worker protection, employers must develop a PPE management program. To ensure the quality and condition of equipment, rigorous procedures must be in place within the company.
Establish a PPE register
The register allows you to have an overview of the PPE and to have easy access to the history of the checks carried out. The aim is to ensure the traceability of the various controls and periodic checks that the equipment must satisfy. The register must contain the following information:
- Type of material
- Brand
- Model
- Serial number
The log serves as a tracking sheet for PPE. It is important to attach the supplier’s information sheets for each piece of PPE. To ensure equipment compliance, the employer should look at the information in the manufacturer’s instruction manual. It contains instructions for storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, expiration date, etc.