Eh Anaya

Reasons People Do Not Wear Ppe In The Work Place

PPE should be the last resort in risk management to protect the health and lives of industry workers. It should only be considered when engineering controls and safe work systems and processes have been exhausted such as in an arc flash incident. Only theoretical maximum levels of protection can be projected with the use of PPE and its maximum protection is achieved only when it is correctly fitted, maintained and used.

However in a majority of cases where PPE is required by law or company policies, workers fail to use the PPE issued by the company for several reasons: including inadequate communication, comfort, suitability, appearance and lack of IV asssessment and training.

Inadequate Communication

Most often, workers do not fully understand why they have to wear PPE or they perceive it as a way that management makes their jobs harder. Management should explain the what, the why and the how about the PPE that are required in such a way that the workers will understand and appreciate that it is for their well-being and safety while earning money. The supervisor must listen to the workers and get their reasons why they are not wearing the required PPE. Their complaints must be investigated, validated and acted upon to increase compliance and belief that the management is seriously concerned about their safety concerning the possibility of an arc flash incident.

Comfort

To save money, management buys PPE in bulk purchases, without taking into consideration the individual differences in shapes and sizes. Workers who do not find comfort while wearing their PPE will always remove it after some time or will not wear it all. PPE should fit the individual in such a way that they will be comfortable while using it in their jobs. Wearing PPE that is uncomfortable will be a hindrance to productivity.

Suitability

Supervisors and management should consider the suitability of the PPE not only to the job but also to the work environment and to the person using it. PPE must allow the person using it to breathe freely, allow air to circulate within the body. Wearing a non-breathable PPE will cause profuse sweating that may be suitable for the job but not for the worker’s health.

Appearance

How a worker looks while wearing the PPE matters. If someone looks like an alien and is being teased about it, he would opt not to wear the PPE at all. Style of the PPE can evoke more compliance whilst the employee would feel proud of wearing a PPE that enhances his appearance. Of course in the case where electrical arc flash occurrences is concerned looking like an alien is normal practice and may just save a person’s life so it is acceptable.

Lack of Workplace Training

Often enough PPE is issued to the worker together with the policy and guidelines on where and when it is to be used. However, management sometimes fails to train the workers on the proper way to use or wear the protective clothing, so that the employee is at a loss on how it is to be worn or used. Sometimes they get ideas and opinions on how it is to be used which are more often inadequate, incomplete or wrong. Thus, they do not feel that management is serious about using the PPE and they refuse to wear it. Most of the reasons why people do not use PPE in the workplace can be addressed if properly communicated and validated by the supervisors concerned and acted upon by the management.