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| Module 1: Occupational Hygiene - Section 4: Personal Protective Equipment |
| OH4.5: Elements of a PPE Programme |
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| Module 1: Occupational Hygiene - Section 4: Personal Protective Equipment |
| OH4.5: Elements of a PPE Programme |
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When use of personal protective equipment is unavoidable, it should be used part of a comprehensive programme 2. Such a programme should include, as a minimum, elements such as policy, selection procedures, education and training, fit-testing, and evaluation of effectiveness the programme.
Policy
A Personal Protective Equipment programme should have a policy statement which clearly states programme goals, a purchasing policy, evaluation of the programme, as well as steps to be taken against workers and employer representatives who fail to cooperate.
The policy should be discussed by management and health and safety representatives, and must be endorsed by workers in a meaningful manner. A copy of the policy must be signed by the person who has the highest authority in the plant, and must be displayed in a prominent area where it will be seen by the majority of workers. This signature serves as a written symbol of commitment on the part of top management.
Selection
The criteria for selecting personal potective equipment are based on the nature of the hazard to be protected against, the degree of protection desired, and the level of acceptable risk. To increase the level of cooperation, workers should be given a choice regarding the equipment. Once a decision is made, it should be adhered to.
Fit-testing
Fit-testing ensures that the personal protective equipment provides in practice for a particular individual in the factory situation, the level of protection it was designed to afford in the laboratory where it was made or tested. Fit-testing is crucial, otherwise if the equipment does not function effectively, there will be poor compliance. Facial hair or long hair, prescription glasses or other facial factors influence the effectiveness of especially respiratory personal protective equipment.
Prior to use of personal protective equipment workers must be certified fit to use personal protective equipment, and medical disorders which may limit its use should be ruled out. For example, workers with respiratory or heart disease may not be able to use respirators for long periods of time, if at all, due to the extra load caused by the work of breathing through a respirator.
Education and training
Education is required to explain to workers the nature of hazard to which they are exposed, what the company has done to bring down exposure levels, advantages and limitations of personal protective equipment, and the reason why workers should make use of personal protective equipment.
Workers should receive training on selection criteria, proper use of personal protective equipment, fit-testing, inspection, repair, storage and maintenance of equipment.
It is clear that use of personal protective equipment requires behavioural change on the part of the worker - this is its main weakness as behavioural change is difficult to achieve. To maximise such change, new workers should undergo induction training to inculcate good work habits; and older workers must receive regular refresher training to counter bad habits that may have developed.
Evaluation
To ensure cost-effectiveness, the programme should be evaluated regularly. Records of education and training, use of personal protective equipment, and results of medical examinations should be kept for as long a period in storage as possible. These records can help in evaluating compliance, effectiveness of the protective equipment, and can be used as a resource to study risks associated with hazards over time, and they are also useful in cases of compensation claims.
