What is Personal Protective Equipment?
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred as “PPE”, it is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Each individual element of the fall arrest system needs to be durable and reliable. That’s why it’s so crucial to use only quality, certified (CE, Declaration of Conformity) products. All components must be used as specified and their functionality ought to be checked on each occasion they are involved. At least once every year, items needs to send for an inspection.
Personal protective equipment designed for work at height includes fall arrest systems and injury prevention items.
Fall arrest systems incorporate all elements aimed at preventing falling from heights, meaning:
- harnesses,
- safety lines, shock absorbers, self-braking devices and other equipment.
Employers are also required to train each worker required to use personal protective equipment to know:
- When it is necessary
- What kind is necessary
- How to properly put it on, adjust, wear and take it off
- The limitations of the equipment
- Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the equipment