Various Types of Personal Protective Equipment

Various Types of Personal Protective Equipment

Odibo, Sanubi and Anidu [2002], stated that, there are nine [9] classes of personal protective e equipment based on the part of the body. They are:

i.             Head protective: Odibo, et al [2002] protective hats are needed on jobs where heads of workmen are menaced by falling objects and where workers may bump their heads against over head protective equipment used in most industries. Above all, safety hats should be fire resistant, impervious to moisture, and resistant to impact in some cases resistant to high voltage. The safety hats are commonly made of metals [aluminum] and plastics.

ii.           

Face protective:   Odibo , et al [2002] there are many types of personal protective equipment designed to shield the face, as well as the eyes and in some cases the entire head and neck against light impacts, chemical splashes, radiation and other hazards. They observed that there are three types of face protection; they include face shield, welding helmets [shield and goggles] and acid hoods. They are made of transparent colored plastics.

iii.           Eye protection: Industrial operation expose the eye to a variety of hazards which include flying objects, splashes or corrosive liquids and molten metal’s, dust and harmful radiation . Goggles and other forms of protection of the eyes are available in many types of styles. The protective medium may be heat—treated glass, transparent plastic etc. [Odibo et al, [2002].

iv.          Respiratory protective: Wole [2000] it is breathing apparatus used over the nose to prevent inhaling hazardous substance such as dust or free silica particle. It helps in supplying unpolluted oxygen in an environment where there is shortage or non availability of oxygen.

v.            Ear protection: Chalgwe [2000] quoting Encyclopedia [1998] ear protection should be used to reduce noise when all available engineering control to reduce noise failed. The type of equipment used is called ear muffs and ear plugs. This earmuff is designed to cover the external part of the ear from excessive noise. The earplug is inserted into the canals. They are made of rubber, cotton and wax. Many industrial machines produce noise far above the required decibel, which may result to permanent loss of hearing.

vi.          Hand protection: Odibo, et al [2002] contends that fingers palm and hand exposed to cuts, scratches, bruises and burns and as such proper protective equipment should be utilized. Aibor & Olournda [2006] explains that hand protected through the use of hand gloves in working place to hold firmly and prevent hand from contamination or skin penetration. Odibo, et al [2002] stressed that there are six [6] types of hand gloves, they are metal mesh gloves, rubber gloves, leather gloves, cotton or fabric gloves, PCV coated fabric gloves, neoprene and vinyl gloves.

vii.         Body protection: According to Chalgwe [2000] overall and coverall is used for protection of the skin and trunk from dust and injurious particles. Overall garments also protect the skin from liquid spills such as chemicals. He said overall are required by every worker particular those in the engineering and technical service division of industrial establishment. Body protection against health and hot metal is vital. Chijoke [2002] observed that health protection equipment are required by workers who come in contact with hot metal and intense radiation particularly fire men leather clothing is one of the most common forms of protection against ultra-violet radiation.

viii.        Foot protection: It is highly essential that safety shoes be used in industries. Although there are different types of safety shoes. Generally they have reinforce toe and toe box must support a stationary load of at least 2,500lbs and must withstand or sustain the impact of a 50lbs weight dropped from a distance of one foot [Odibo et al, 2002].

Whole [2000] foot and leg protection involve the use of plastic or leather boots with puncture proof sole to protect against nail and sharp object.

ix       SAFETY BELTS: According to chalgwe, [2000] workers in high must required safety belts to secure themselves from failing off accidental in process of doing these jobs. Electricians are good example of workers who require safety belts as protective gear. Also, those who climbs down into tank.

References

Aibor M.S. & Olorunda J.O (2006). Technical Handbook of Environmental Health in the 21^st Century. Divine Favour Publisher.

Chalgwe (2000), unpublished lecture note on industrial safety.

Chijoke N.L. (2003). Unpublished Lecture Monograph on Occupation Health Safety, Department of Environmental Health Technology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology. Port-Harcourt.

Odibo A.A., Sanubi B.O. & Anidu E.J. (2002). Health and safety Education. A Functional Approach Including First Aid Procedures. COEWA Publisher. Warri.

Wole A. M.D. (2000). Essential of Community Health, Primary Health Care and Health Management. Published by Mediscuces. Benin City.