Once you have performed a hazard assessment of your facility, you will need to identify what PPE you need to supply for your warehouse workers. Providing your employees with the proper PPE equipment ensures they are protected against potential hazards and will help reduce the risk of injury in your workplace.
PPE stands for personal protective equipment, which is equipment and safety apparel that is worn to protect the body against hazards that can cause serious injuries in the workplace. Providing workplace PPE for your employees is important because it effectively minimizes the risk of physical injuries and long-term conditions, such as back pain.
Warehouses can present a multitude of potential hazards, such as falling objects, moving vehicles, dust and particles, electrical equipment, loud equipment, and hazardous chemicals. It is important to keep workers' bodies protected against these hazards by providing them with proper-fitting PPE. PPE for warehouses should include coverage for the vulnerable parts of the body such as the eyes, head, feet, hands, and ears.
Providing proper eye and face protection reduces the risk of foreign bodies coming into contact with the eyeballs, nose, and mouth of your workers.
Head PPE provides effective protection against falling heavy objects as well as extreme temperatures.
Hand and arm PPE provides a layer of protection against sharp or hazardous objects as well as extreme temperatures.
Ensuring your employees have the correct foot and leg protection for the job is essential to their safety, comfort, and productivity.
Proper body protection for a warehouse includes providing high-visibility clothing for workers in low-lit areas as well as those in areas where material handling equipment passes through. It is also important to provide protective items that can be worn to prevent injuries from frequent heavy lifting.
Disposable earplugs or safety ear muffs will help reduce the noise of loud machinery and protect workers from eardrum damage or hearing loss in the future.
In addition to choosing a type of PPE, you must make sure it complies with OSHA standards, fits your workers properly, and that your workers are properly trained on how to use it.