Hazards are present in every single workplace. However, they are most prevalent in industrial settings. These range from falling objects to loud noises, chemical exposure and flying sparks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to protect all employees from any hazard in the workplace that can cause an injury.
Did you know that a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds? (National Safety Council). This could be avoided by taking preventative actions like wearing your PPE.
We prioritize keeping your team safe. When it comes to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), we’ve got you covered! All PPE should be selected based on the hazards that are involved in your particular workplace. Here is a breakdown of some of the protective equipment that we, here at Nichols, are happy to provide:
- Head / Face Protection
- Head protective equipment should resist penetration of objects, absorb the shock of a blow, be water resistant and slow burning.
- Face shields and eye protection are necessary when exposed to molten metal, liquid chemicals, chemical gases or vapors.
- Protective Clothing
- Leggings, metatarsal guards and shin guards are a few examples of leg protection.
- There are hundreds of different gloves that can be used for hand and arm protection.
- Appropriate body protection should be worn when dealing with hazards like cuts, radiation, extreme temperatures, hot liquids and impacts from tools or machinery.
- Reflective clothing is another important PPE to consider.
- Hearing Protection
- Determining whether or not hearing protection, like earplugs or earmuffs, is necessary in your workplace can be challenging. According to OSHA, exposure to excessive noise depends on a number of factors including: the loudness of the noise as measured in decibels, the duration of the employee’s exposure to the noise, whether the employee moves between areas with different noise levels, and whether the noise is generated from one or multiple sources.
- Foot Protection
- This type of protection is needed for workplaces where heavy objects may roll or fall on the associate’s feet, when working with sharp objects that could pierce through an ordinary shoe, when exposed to molten metal, and when surfaces are hot, wet, and slippery.
Remember, it is not worth the risk of getting hurt. You and your team should wear proper personal protective equipment. If you have any questions about what is best for your workplace, reach out to your local sales representative because Nichols is Here to Help!