Device designed to create physical barriers between the worker and workplace hazards to protect the worker against work-related injuries and illnesses.
Wearing masks, gloves, and protective clothing — while beneficial to our safety — can be cumbersome, uncomfortable, and just slow us down, that it makes the job harder.
For any business, productivity is a key driver in performance. The faster and more effective employees are in their role the greater their output level is likely to be, which positively impacts on profits for the business. Not supplying employees with the right equipment can have a negative impact on the running of your business. Whether it infringes employee rights, reduces productivity or outright puts employees at risk
Through examining the relationship between productivity and PPE we have discovered that there are a number of factors that influence this with comfort, protection, and performance being critical. By using PPE that supports these three key areas, operator safety can be increased and PPE becomes a tool for the job, rather than an obstacle. PPE will influence the user’s movement and function, which dictates how the operator will perform. In roles where vision is essential, large viewing areas are created. Physical impact included exhaustion, headache, skin changes, breathlessness and a negative impact on vision. Communication difficulties, somnolence, negative impact on overall performance and difficulties in using surgical instrumentation were reported.
Comfort is determined by many factors, whether it’s the fit, materials used, weight distribution, the temperature, these all play a role combining to create our experience of using a product. When these aspects of the design are considered and executed properly, this reduces aches and strains on the operator’s body which allows them to sustain higher levels of performance for longer periods of time without the need for additional breaks or reduced workload capacity. By increasing comfort, this also reduces the effects of fatigue and through this, a higher level of productivity is able to be achieved and sustained.
The most important component to PPE is the level of protection it creates. The sole purpose of wearing it in the first place is to ensure the operator can safely work in the environment without feeling the effects of the hazards that are present.