On average, several million workers get hurt each year on the job and a significant number sustain severe or critical injuries. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 more than half of the 3.3 million reported…
What to know about Head Protection
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers are required to provide a safe and healthful workplace and must protect workers from hazards that can cause injury or illness.
While completely eliminating the workplace hazard is preferable (and the most ideal), sometimes this is not practical. In these situations employers will require employees to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize the hazards that cannot be eliminated.
OSHA regards protecting workers’ heads from injury as a focal point of PPE compliance. Workplace head injuries frequently have serious or fatal consequences, most of which could have been easily prevented with precautionary measures. Safety helmets or hard hats absorb and reduce impact, as well as prevent penetration hazards. Depending on the model, many also protect from burns and electrical shock hazards as well.
Head protection must be worn in the following circumstances…
Expert Tips to Make Your PPE Program Effective
Compliance with Personal Protective Equipment Standards is a system of interdependent actions—each of which must be functioning properly to adhere to regulations. Make sure your PPE program is functioning effectively by checking the following areas…