PPE - (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT)

PPE - (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT):

 

 

As we cannot always, when conducting Risk Assessment Eliminate all the risk but we can Minimize it 

by using the correct PPE and use it correctly.

 

 

 

When to wear our PPE, when:

1) When decided so in our Daily or Continuous Risk Assessment before commencing the Job or Task

2) When a BLUE (compulsory) symbolic sign indicate so

3) Instructed by your Supervisor or Safety staff

4) Anytime when you feel it can protect you from any Injury or harm

Remember according the Sect 22 (c) of the mine Health & Safety Act,that every employee are responsible for His / Her own Safety and must take care of their PPE.

22. Employees' duties for health and safety.

-Every employee at a mine, while at that mine, must-  (a) take reasonable care to protect their own health and safety;

  (b) take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by any act or omission of that employee; 

 (c) use and take proper care of protective clothing, and other health and safety facilities and equipment provided for the protection, health or safety of that employee and other employees; 

(d) report promptly to their immediate supervisor any situation which the employee believes presents a risk to the health or safety of that employee or any other person, and with which the employee cannot properly deal;

  (e) co-operate with any person to permit compliance with the duties and responsibilities placed on that person in terms of this Act; and 

 ( f ) comply with prescribed health and safety measures.   

FOLLOWING SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW TO INSPECT AND CARE FOR YOUR PPE:

GLOVES:

Gloves are issued to protect your hands from injury of sharp objects like  rocks, when handling or lifting

material and going about your normal activities in the workplace

 

Limitations:

• Gloves will protect your hands from small abrasions and cuts and must always be used in the workplace

• Gloves will not protect your hands in cases of extreme impact or being pulled into moving

machinery

• Specific gloves are available for specific tasks e.g. working with cement, chemicals,

electricity etc.

 

Examination:

• The gloves must be clean and not torn.

Hazards, risks and consequences:

- If the gloves are torn and not clean they may cause skin infection that could possibly

become serious.

-If the gloves are torn they may be caught by moving parts of a machine and this could

result in amputation of your hand.

 

Maintenance and storage:

• Keep clean and replace if they become torn.

• Wear them at all times in the workplace and store in your locker at the end off shift

EYE PROTECTION:

Safety glasses are provided to you whenever you are required to perform work where the possibility may exist of foreign bodies entering your eyes.

 

Limitations:

• Limitation 1 – (gauze goggles) these will protect your eyes against fines in the        eyes but will

not protect against liquids or large flying objects.

• Limitation 2 – (plastic goggles) These will protect your eyes against fines and   small particles in the eyes but will not protect against arc welding, flame cutting or large flying objects.

• Specific eye wear is available for specific tasks e.g. furnaces, welding, heat area etc

 

Examination:

• Safety glasses must be clean and not cracked or broken as this will impair your vision

• Side protectors shall be used when there is a hazard of flying objects.

• The head strap must hold the safety glasses firm on your face covering your eyes so that

you can work properly without them slipping off your face

Hazards, Risks and Consequences:

• Dirty glasses will impair your vision and if the method of keeping them in front of your eyes is damaged, it will not be able to protect your eyes.

 

Maintenance and storage of safety glasses

Safety glasses are pretty tough but will get damaged if they are left lying around.

 

Maintenance:

• The only maintenance that can be done on the safety glasses the proper adjustment of the head strap to ensure they fit properly on your face and ensure they are kept clean.

• Any other defects must be reported and the safety glasses replaced

 

Storage:

• When not in use in the workplace you can keep them on your hard hat, around your neck or hang them up in a safe place where they won’t get damaged.

• Off shift they should be kept in your locker

• Your safety glasses will really only be damaged if they left lying around and they get trampled by foreign objects, horse play etc.