Safe and Comfortable

Properly fitted safety gear is critical to protecting your employees

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Workplace safety gear can be bulky, cumbersome and uncomfortable, making it easy to leave safety glasses on the dashboard and earplugs in the package. Taking the time to make sure your employees have gear that fits properly can go a long way toward making them safer and more comfortable, which can save you time and money in the long run.

Unfortunately, a recent study shows that required safety gear still isn’t being worn properly in many cases, and in some cases not at all. The study, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional, reported 89 percent of safety professionals said they had observed workers not wearing safety equipment when they should have been. Twenty-nine percent said this had happened on numerous occasions.

“This high rate of noncompliance with PPE protocols presents a serious threat to worker health and safety,” said Gina Tsiropoulos, manufacturing segment marketing manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. “While the reasons for noncompliance are varied, the threat to workers is clear-cut. Without the proper use of PPE, they are at risk of serious injury or even death.”

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the vast majority of workers who sustained on-the-job injuries were not wearing PPE. The reason? According to the Kimberly-Clark survey, 50 percent of workers said they are not wearing the proper gear because it is uncomfortable.

Many companies are working to improve the fit and comfort of safety equipment. Among them is Gateway Safety, which recently introduced GirlzGear, a line of safety products specifically designed and sized to fit women. GirlzGear safety glasses are 10 percent smaller to fit the female profile better, and come in a variety of colors, including pink. While pink arms on a pair of safety glasses won’t make them any more protective, better fit and styling make it more likely workers – women in this case – will wear their safety gear on the job.

That’s important, because each day about 2,000 U.S. workers suffer a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. Eye injuries alone cost more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and worker compensation, according to OSHA. On top of that, a Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 60 percent of workers who suffered eye injuries were not wearing eye protection.

Many workers are also going without ear protection, a problem that may be made worse by the fact hearing loss is generally a gradual process not related to a one-time incident or exposure to noise. With earplugs, proper fit is the key to comfort and effectiveness.

At Shaw Industries Group Inc., a large carpet manufacturer, hearing protection is critical. Employees had always been required to wear dual protection, with earmuffs over traditional earplugs, but when the company introduced the Howard Leight VeriPRO earplug fit-test system, that changed.

VeriPRO’s three-part process checks the effectiveness of an employee’s earplug fit in each ear over a range of frequencies. The system helps workers find the earplugs that fit them best and learn how to consistently insert them properly.

By introducing the new system, Shaw afforded employees the opportunity to test out of the dual protection requirement. The workers were able to gain a level of comfort by eliminating the need for dual protection, and their ears were better protected.

In the drain cleaning industry, gloves are another key piece of safety equipment. Anyone who may come in contact with contaminants from drain or sewer lines should be wearing waterproof gloves. Cable machine operators are supposed to wear leather gloves impregnated with steel staples to protect their hands.

The wrong or oversized gloves can be a significant safety risk all on their own. Lightweight gloves can get caught up in the cable, and oversized gloves can make it difficult to work. They can also get caught in the cable or other equipment, depending on the job. Simply slipping on a pair of gloves doesn’t ensure safety.

As a business owner or manager, dedicating the time and money to finding quality gear that is comfortable and fits properly will keep your people safer. Don’t assume that your employees are properly protected just because everyone is issued a pair of safety glasses and there’s a big box of earplugs by the time clock. Train your people properly, because your livelihood – and their lives – may depend on it.



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