Proper Fit
One of the most widely acknowledged difficulties of PPE is whether employees will wear it as intended. For this reason, it is expected that hazards of a workplace are first engineered out from an administrative side to avoid a need for PPE. However, not all hazards can be removed, and PPE is often a necessity. A great example of this is roadway safety. In many cases where people are working along roadways, there are still cars on some or all of the road operating as normal. So, there are specific high-vis apparel requirements, among other PPE expectations, which must be followed at all times.
So, how do we ensure that our crews are wearing all of the PPE that is needed to keep them safe? In addition to very clear policies and training, proper fit of each item is essential. We know that OSHA has implemented standards in both General Industry (1910.132(d)(1)(iii)) and Construction (1926.95 (c)(2)) which state that PPE must fit properly. There are, of course, safety risks involved when apparel is loose and prone to snagging or when the safety glasses which are supposed to prevent debris from entering the eyes have a large gap. But, fit also impacts the comfort of the item.
To put it plainly, comfort matters. It not only impacts whether the item will be worn properly (or at all), but some ill-fitting items have the potential to cause long term concerns due to repeated daily bodily adjustments. As discussed in our ergonomics blog, those long term injuries can have a big cost and result in large amounts of lost work time.
This may mean that you need to consider offering more than one option for some items, such as a small frame safety glass option or adding the women’s style of vest with your standard men’s design. While not all products offer this kind of variety, there are increasingly larger ranges of choices on the market to ensure that you are finding a proper fit for all PPE.
Additionally, some items are inherently customizable and simply need effective training to ensure those items are fitting the wearer correctly. For example, as long as they are properly inserted, disposable ear plugs are designed to fit themselves into each person’s ear canal and create an effective seal. However, we consistently find that many do not know the proper technique for ear plug use. Hard hats are another great example of this, including suspensions which, again upon proper installation, make the hat fit the wearer.
Ultimately, it comes down to you to ensure that the PPE provided fits and works well. Each piece of PPE plays its own role, and just like a suit of armor even one area of weakness can lead to an undesirable result. If you have any questions on what options are available (or how to properly insert ear plugs), feel free to reach out to us at 919-602-2503 or marketing@safetypackonline.com
Resources:
OSHA Standard for General Industry 1910.132(d)(1)(iii)
OSHA Standard for Safety and Health Regulations for Construction 1926.95(c)(2)