3 Ways wearing PPE can sometimes expose you to hidden dangers

If you want to protect yourself from dangers in the workplace you need to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)! Whether you work in a factory, construction site or laboratory, you always need to wear the correct PPE to avoid injuring yourself or exposing yourself to anything dangerous.

For affordable PPE, including safety wear and equipment, visit L&A Safety’s website or pop into one of their stores in Cape Town, Robertson or Vredenburg.

If you’re not careful, there can be a negative side to wearing PPE, especially if you use it improperly…

It can give you a false sense of security

A false sense of security can be dangerous and even deadly! Just because you are wearing your PPE doesn’t mean you cannot be harmed, accidents can still happen. Workers who wear PPE and believe they are completely protected can be careless when it comes to handling chemicals, electricity and other dangerous objects.

It can create hazards

PPE doesn’t fit everyone the same, it is not one size fits all, so you need to wear the PPE that is specifically designed for your work. If you wear the wrong PPE protection or the incorrect size then you are putting yourself in harm’s way.

Pre-contact vs. point-of-contact

PPE protects workers during point-of-contact hazards, such as exposure to ultraviolet light or contact with dangerous acid. Yes, PPE improves worker safety by reducing the risk of injury, but it doesn’t eliminate the hazard! Pre-contact controls are essential to improving worker safety as they eliminate hazards completely.

PPE includes hard hats, helmets, safety boots, gloves and masks as well as hearing protection and so much more – always wear the correct PPE and plan out your PPE program carefully.