OSHA oversight is important for the safety of our permanent and temporary workforce. Among the many things they govern, personal protective equipment is important in maintaining safety of employees. Here is some information about personal protective equipment and what it means for you and your staff.

• What is personal protective equipment? Personal Protective Equipment or PPE can include a number of things such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs, hard hats, respirators, coveralls, or safety vests. Which equipment your team needs will largely be based on your industry and the specific work being performed.
• When is it necessary? The necessity of these items will be based on your job requirements. If you are unsure what is required for the job being performed, contact OSHA to discuss the work and the requirements.
• Proper training for all employees. It is important to make sure that your team knows how to properly use all equipment. A failure to comply, improper use, or ill-fitting items may result in more of the injuries than they were attempting to prevent.
• Maintenance and care for equipment. All safety equipment that is to be used on the job needs to be properly maintained and cared for. Any PPE that is in disrepair should be discarded and replaced immediately. Hold frequent inspections to ensure that safety standards are being met.
• Recognizing limitations. It is equally as important for business to know that safety equipment alone cannot absolutely guarantee that injuries will not occur in the workplace. PPE needs to be used in conjunction with other safety standards and protocols.

Do you want to know more about OSHA and personal protective equipment? Contact Full Steam Staffing, premier Northern California employment firm, to learn more!