A few years ago during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic the term PPE was thrown around a lot. If it wasn’t for these life-saving masks and gowns and gloves, our health care workers would not have been able to treat those who were suffering from the horrible disease. While many may have lost track of PPE or Personal Protective Equipment at this point it still features quite heavily in the professions of many both in and outside of the health care community. The use of PPE can be seen in many industries and when it is used incorrectly or not at all it can lead to an injury at work that can result in a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
It is not the goal of this post to cover all types of PPE and what each individual piece of equipment is designed to do and protect you against at work, but it is important to talk about some steps you can take when you are using PPE at work to make sure you are completely safe while doing your job. All different types of professions utilize PPE in a variety of different ways, but there are certain similarities across industries that can help guide all who use this type of equipment on how to use it safely.
If you are in a profession that requires you to wear a hard hat, you are using PPE. If you are in a profession that requires you to wear protective eye glasses, you are using PPE. If you are in a medical space and are required to wear a mask, you are using PPE. The list can go on and on, but one thing is sure the commonalities between the use of these different PPEs may not readily come to mind, but they most certainly are there and you should be aware of them.
When using PPE you should keep the following three things in mind so you can make sure you are using the equipment in the way it was intended.
-
Use the right equipment for the job. If you are painting a room and you are wearing a simple cloth mask, that is not the right PPE for the job. Painters need proper ventilation in a mask and protection from fumes and a cloth mask will not do the trick. It is this type of understanding of the job you are doing and what equipment is actually needed for the job. If you are not sure you can consult your supervisor to make sure you are wearing the appropriate PPE for the job that you are doing.
-
Always check to make sure your PPE is in good condition and it fits properly. You could have a ripped mask that is supposed to protect you from infectious diseases, but if it is ripped you could be susceptible. If your hard hat has a crack in it and then something drops on your head during the course of the job you are doing you could be at risk. You should always check the condition of your PPE before you get started on your job to make sure you will be protected.
-
After inspecting your PPE make sure you get it repaired or replaced before you start working. If you notice there is damage to your equipment and you don’t do anything about it you could be setting yourself up for getting injured or sick on the job. While this may still not be your fault, it is not something you want to risk when you could have easily prevented it by getting your equipment repaired or replaced in a timely manner.
Your Personal Protective Equipment is critical if you are in a profession that requires it. If you are not sure whether you should be wearing PPE in your role you should speak with someone who is qualified to give you advice on the matter and move forward accordingly. If you are not wearing PPE or are wearing defective PPE you could get injured on the job which may lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim and quite a bit of time out of work. It’s not worth the risk of going without or working with defective equipment.
If you get injured on the job and you’re working to file a claim, you may need to speak with a board certified workers’ compensation attorney who can review your situation. Contact our office and one of our experienced and board certified attorneys can hear your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
