Workers ‘forget’ to wear PPE? You’re not alone
December 5, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, PPE (protective equipment), Safety training
A recent survey shows employees’ failure to use personal protective equipment is a widespread problem.
When asked if they’ve ever observed anyone at their company failing to wear proper PPE when they should have been, 89% said yes. Specifically:
- 45% said it happens on numerous occasions
- 44% answered that it happens infrequently
- 8% said it doesn’t happen
- 3% answered “don’t know.”
Since many of your peers have this problem, what are they planning to do to boost compliance?
- Improve existing education and training: 70%
- Purchase more comfortable PPE: 69%
- Increase monitoring: 42%
- Tie compliance to individual performance evaluations: 32%
- Purchase more stylish PPE: 31%
- Develop incentive programs: 24%
- None of these: 2%.
The survey was conducted at this year’s National Safety Council Congress on Sept. 23 by Kimberly-Clark Professional Safety among safety managers in attendance.
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Tags: PPE, Safety training, survey
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December 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I have lectured my techs on the use of PPE, even to the point of showing them my own missing toes, and they still fail to comply. The only thing that seems to work is shutting their jobs down. Since my techs are paid Flat Rate, if they don’t work, the don’t get paid. After a few early trips home, they are beginning to get the point. Now I MUST be consistent or they will stop believing me.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
employee evaluations should contain a rating of how frequently they comply by wearing PPE’s. If the employee becomes injured as a result of not wearing a PPE they should be reprimanded .
December 9th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I and 5 other employees saw another employee get sulfuric acid splashed all over him. Fortunately he had all of his PPE on and only suffered minor burns. Immediately afterward one of the employees who witnessed the accident was doing the same job without eye protection or a face shield.
If you provide good, comfortable and effective PPE, and you provide good, appropriate training and you still have a problem it is time for disciplinary action. Wearing PPE is a condition of employment.
One more thing…. Supervisory and management, especially upper management MUST set the example and ALWAYS wear their PPE when they are in any area that regular employees are required to wear it. If you do not insist on this you will never achieve the level of compliance where wearing PPE is routine to the employees.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Education and strict documented enforcement. I repeat: strict documented enforcement. I’m not showing anyone my toes and I’m not missing any. OSHA has given teeth to PPE training and enforcement this year. It’s an individual fine for every employee not trained inproper PPE use. Multiple citations add up very quickly, if it’s a sub, the sub AND and the contractor are fined. Start reading your contracts, if you’re too unsafe you can lose a job. If you have too many accidents, you’re E-mod goes up and you’ll have trouble bidding work. Just telling them to wear safety glasses isn’t good enough. They need to be trained and then monitered. If caught the first time it is a documented ‘Verbal’ warning. After that it’s up to your companies diciplinary policy. If you’re a foreman or above, it doesn’t matter that you weren’t at fault, YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE for what goes on during your watch. By not fairly (by company and employee) enforcing the rules you’re setting a very dangerous presidence. If you haven’t yet been named in a personal injury lawsuit, you will, it’ll be up to you to provide documentation to the companys’ lawyer to get the judge to throw your part out. BTDT and it’s not fun. Mr. Blair, if an employee is injured not wearing PPE it’s too late.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:59 am
I am currently doing my Masters degree. My research topic is “The reluctance and Reasons why employees do not waer PPE. Can you provide me with information or books i can research