How to do Inspection of Personal Protective Equipment?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) inspection checklists are used by safety administrators and supervisors to help classify tasks that need PPE, confirm staff is using the correct equipment, and decrease overall damage. Inspections confirm that all PPE are of the accurate specification and appropriate, which also helps to classify the "weakest link" in a safety and risk inhibition program. Regular PPE inspections are dynamic to every organization complex in risky industries because PPE can become damaged or lose its efficiency due to wear and tear, inappropriate use and handling, and exposure to dirt, grit, chemicals, and other elements. Inspections confirm obedience and that PPE will last for a long time with minimum degradation.

What are the Maintenance Requirements for PPE?

There has been rising awareness and focus on the appropriate use of PPE, but even if workers in dangerous industries are trained on their correct usage, there’s still the problem of appropriate care and maintenance. Even if workers wear PPE at all times during working or when exposed to certain risks, this diligence means nothing if the PPE used has depreciated or isn’t up to quality standards. In the US, OSHA puts the responsibility of confirming workers are protected from harm and that PPE is always preserved on the employer’s shoulders. Aside from PPE maintenance, employers are also responsible for:

• execution a risk assessment of the workplace to classify and control risks.
• classifying and providing appropriate PPE to employees.
• a href="https://www.punyamacademy.com/course/ohsa/ppe-safety-training-online-certification">PPE safety training

employees in the use and care of PPE.

• periodically reviewing, updating, and evaluating the efficiency of the PPE program.

Appropriate maintenance of PPE, inappropriately, is something that can still fall through the blows if organizations aren’t careful. It’s a deliberation that should always be a top priority, especially for organizations in risky industries like construction. Below are the main deliberations in the correct maintenance of PPE.

For helmets:

• Keep helmets clean by frequently washing them with warm water and soap.
• Check headbands to confirm a relaxed fit.
• Store helmets and other head protection gear away from extreme temperatures and situations.
• Replace helmets that are broken, have dents, or are showing signs of wear and tear.

For protective eyewear:

• Frequently clean eyewear with water and mild soap.
• Always wash lenses with water before rubbing them to stop scratches caused by foreign objects.
• Store eyewear in a durable dustproof case and keep in a safe place to avoid damage.
• Replace any eyewear instantly if they are pitted, scratched, or worn out to the point that they weaken vision.

For gloves:

• Always keep gloves clean and dry.
• Always checked gloves for holes, cracks, and other mutilation before use.
• Confirm whether gloves are reusable or not and, if reusable, take note of how long they can be reused safely before needing replacement.
• Replace damaged gloves instantly.

For footwear:

• Wipe wet or soiled footwear with a clean cloth before storage.
• Air out footwear after work to keep dry.
• Frequently check for signs of mold and fungus.
• Users of protective footwear should change socks through breaks to keep feet and footwear dry.
• Change footwear at the first sign of damage and frequently check ones in use to confirm they are in good working condition.

Source:

https://ohsawareness.wordpress.com/2022/09/29/how-to-do-inspection-of-personal-protective-equipment/

Ian Colin has published many articles regarding ISO Certification. Ian has rich experience as a online publisher and prepared various Certification documents as per ISO guideline since large amount of years in his professional career.