Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for maintaining safe and efficient work practices, especially in environments such as apartment communities where maintenance tasks are common. Proper use of PPE like gloves, goggles, earplugs, and face shields can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and accidents. This blog post provides essential tips on selecting, using, and maintaining PPE to maximize safety.

Understanding the Role of PPE

While PPE is designed to protect you from injuries, it is crucial to remember that using the wrong type or excessive amounts of PPE can actually cause harm. PPE should always be used in conjunction with good judgment and not solely relied upon for protection. For example, wearing a back-belt does not mean you can lift anything without the risk of injury.

Key Guidelines for PPE Usage

1. Hazard Assessment: Each property’s Maintenance Supervisor must assess the specific hazards and acquire appropriate PPE that meets ANSI standards.
2. Employer Responsibility: OSHA requires employers to provide PPE and train employees on its proper use.
3. Employee Knowledge: All employees must know how to obtain, use, and maintain PPE to perform their tasks safely.
4. Integrated Process: Choosing the necessary PPE should be part of the same process as selecting tools and materials for a job.
5. Availability: If necessary PPE is not available, notify your supervisor immediately.

PPE Inspection and Maintenance

• Regular Inspections: Inspect PPE before use and report any damage to your supervisor. Using damaged PPE, like gloves with holes or scratched goggles, can impair performance and create hazards.
• Proper Selection: Choose the appropriate gloves for each task to prevent potential hand injuries. The wrong type of gloves can cause accidents.
• Foot Protection: Wear shoes or boots that protect against impacts, scrapes, punctures, heat, cold, and other hazards. Ensure they are in good condition to maintain balance and traction.
• Back Support: Use back belts for additional support when lifting, but always use proper lifting techniques.
• Hearing Protection: Use earplugs around noisy machinery to protect your hearing.
• Eye Protection: Flying objects are usually unexpected, so always wear goggles when working with machinery, hammering, cutting wood, using leaf blowers, pressure cleaning, trimming shrubbery, sanding, and using hand tools.
• Clean and Store PPE: Clean your PPE after each use and store it in a dry location.

Practical Tips for Daily Use

• Keep PPE Accessible: Always keep gloves and goggles with you, as you are likely to need them throughout the day.
• Consistent Use: Make sure to wear your PPE properly. Goggles around your neck won’t protect your eyes, and gloves in your toolbox won’t protect your hands.

By following these guidelines and making PPE an integral part of your daily routine, you can significantly enhance your safety and reduce the risk of injuries at work. Remember, PPE is only effective when used correctly and consistently.

Stay safe and protect yourself with the right PPE!