PPE & Safety Products - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How often should I test a harness?
Best
practice says that safety harnesses should be inspected by a
professional every 6 months. However, PPE regulations require a minimum of 12
monthly inspections, which are to be recorded on the harness itself. When will my helmet be out of date?
All
hard hats and helmets come
with a stamp on the inside. This marker will have a number in the middle, which
signifies the year the hard hat was manufactured, and an arrow pointing to the
month. This allows you to check when the hard had was made and decide whether
it’s time to replace it with a new one. If your hard hat is showing signs of
damage, make sure to replace it right away. How do I tell what cut level my gloves are?
You
can check the cut level (or cut resistance) of gloves by taking a sample of the
glove and cutting it in continuous cycles until the material has been
completely severed. The number of cycles required to cut through the material
indicates its level of cut resistance. What is arc flash clothing?
Arc flash clothing is specifically designed
to protect the wearer from arc flashes, which are a type of electrical
discharge or explosion. An arc flash can travel from a conductor to the ground and
also via air between conductors. Whilst all arc flash clothing is
flame-resistant, not all flame-resistant clothing is arc-rated. What is class 3 hi-vis?
Class
3 is thehighest protection level for hi-vis
(high-visibility) clothing. Theband of retro-reflective material will
be at least 50mm wide, the minimum background material will be 0.80m sq, and
the minimum retro-reflective material will be 0.20m sq. What is cold store clothing?
Cold store clothing is
designed for workers who need to access coldstores and other types of
refrigerated areas. Thanks to its heavy-duty construction, this type of
workwear is suitable for working in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius. What are the safety footwear standards in Ireland?
All safety
footwear must be fitted with toe protection against a 200 Joule impact.
This is because the toes are a particularly vulnerable part of the body and are
at a higher risk of being harmed in the workplace. What is the protocol for N95 masks?
N95 masks can be rotated and used in
numerical order, with each mask used every 3-4 days. By allowing this gap
between uses, all SARS-CoV-2 viruses that may be present on the N95 mask
will be dead by the time it is next used. Masks should also be kept at room
temperature (21–23°C, 70–73°F) and 40% humidity. What does PPE stand for?
PPE stands for personal
protective equipment. It refers to any equipment worn by an individual to
minimise their exposure to hazards, such as viruses. PPE can also be designed
to protect the wearer from injuries and illnesses caused by contact with
chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical and other forms of workplace
hazards.
Does PPE have to be tested and inspected?
Yes,
PPE should be regularly
inspected to ensure it is still capable of performing its function to full
effect. Factors such as exposure to dirt, grit, chemicals and UV light could
have an impact on a particular type of PPE’s performance, plus general wear and
tear can lead to it becoming ineffective. What are the hazards and types of PPE?
PPE (personal protective
equipment) is designed to protect the wearer from a variety of hazards, such as
impact, noise, viruses, the weather, and so on. The main types of PPE are: ·Safety helmets ·Ear protection ·Gloves ·High-visibility clothing ·Safety footwear ·Safety harnesses ·Thermal, weather and waterproof clothing ·Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) What factors do I need to consider when selecting and wearing
respiratory protection?
When
wearing respiratory protection, please take into account the following: ·The level of respiratory hazard ·The type of material the respirator is made of ·The respirator's weight ·How comfortable the respirator is to wear ·How to test, wear and use the respirator ·Care, storage and maintenance of the respirator Which safety shoes are suitable for indoor work?
Depending
on the type of working environment the worker is based in, there are a few
types of safety
shoe
that are suitable. For instance, safety trainers and safety boots may be
sufficient, although some workers may require anti-static shoes, rigger boots
or composite footwear. For expert advice on what type of footwear to choose for
your employees, please get in touch with our team. Which safety shoes are suitable for outdoor work?
Outdoor
work can take place in a range of surroundings, so the type of safety
footwear worn by the worker depends on their exact role. Common examples
are composite footwear, wellingtons and waterproof boots. For expert advice on
what type of footwear to choose for your employees, please get in touch with
our team. What are anti-static shoes?
Anti-static shoes are designed to conduct
static electricity through the insole, linings and outsole into the ground.
This helps to regulate the build-up of electrical charge on the wearer’s body
and protect them from the dangers of static build-up in the workplace. Which shoes are suitable for slippery surfaces?
If your workers are likely to work in areas with slippery
surfaces, it’s crucial that you supply them with footwear that will keep them safe. The Exena GIAVA 20 S3 SRC Boot is
an excellent example, although any safety footwear with anti-slip properties
should suffice. What are the different types of firefighting equipment?
Fire safety equipment comes in a wide range of
forms, such as: ·Fire extinguishers ·Fire blankets ·Smoke alarms ·Fire hose reels ·Safety signage, including emergency and exit signs ·Sprinkler systems ·First aid kits ·Arc flash clothing and gloves What are the types of fire extinguishers and which I should
choose?
There
are six types of fire extinguishers, so knowing which to choose
and use is vital to worker safety. They are categorised as follows:
Class A: Combustible carbon-based solids, such
as paper, wood or textiles
Class B: Flammable liquids, such as
paraffin, petrol, diesel or oil (but not cooking oil)
Class C: Flammable gases, such as butane,
propane or methane
Class D: Burning metals, such as aluminium,
lithium or magnesium
Electrical: Fires caused by electrical
equipment require a fire extinguisher with anelectric spark symbol (rather than
the letter E)
