Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment is special equipment that you wear to create a barrier between you and germs.

This barrier reduces the chance of touching, being exposed, and spreading germs. Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE) helps prevent the spread of germs in the hospital

Eye protection
Facial protection and especially eye protection is made up of a set of protectors that aim to take care of the eyes.

One of the most vulnerable parts of the human body and that, at the same time, we expose the most in our day

to day

Chemical, physical and mechanical risks are the main enemies of eye safety for many workers. Therefore, there

are different options that will help you protect them depending on your profession and your daily tasks

1- Universal Frame Safety Glasses

Universal frame safety glasses are those made up of lenses, a frame and temples. They are the best known since

they are the ones that most resemble prescription glasses.

We start with the best-known facial protection equipment, the universal frame safety glasses. It is the “simplest”

equipment to protect our eyes.

2- Protective face shields

For their part, face shields are a type of protection focused not only on protecting the eyes, but also the rest of
the face and, in some models, even part of the neck.

They usually consist of a screen and a head harness, although some models have an anchor that allows the
possibility of attaching it to a protective helmet
3- Full Frame Safety Glasses

Safety glasses with integral or panoramic frames are those that tightly enclose the entire eye area, thus

offering maximum protection for the eyes. Avoiding that any type of contaminant can affect us and, in this

way, the safety of the worker can be reduced.

Here you can see an example of comprehensive safety glasses, in this case, we have highlighted the 3M

model 2890.

respiratory protection

Respiratory protection equipment is one designed to block the passage of contaminants into the respiratory

system. Sometimes, in addition, it can supply oxygen to the worker. Respiratory protection equipment protects

against the following contaminants:

- Dust

solid particles suspended in the air. Its size is varied and its shape irregular.

- Aerosol sprays

Dispersion of solid or liquid particles, or both, smaller than 100 microns, in a gaseous bed. Within this

definition they are divided according to the physical state:

 - Fog

The particles are liquid and are caused by condensation of the gaseous state or by spraying, boiling,

splashing, etc. of the liquid in the gas.

- Smoke

Solid particles resulting from a combustion process that is carried out incompletely.

- gases

Substances that are in a gaseous state under normal conditions of temperature and pressure (20 ºC and 1

atmosphere). Examples of gases are: CO, CO2, NH3, etc.

- vapors

Substances that, under normal conditions of temperature and pressure (20 ºC and 1 atmosphere), are in a

solid or liquid state. Examples of vapors would be water, benzene, etc.

- biological agents

Both bacteria and viruses can be found in this group.

4- FILTERING MASKS.

They are filtering half masks with valves, which incorporate filters against vapours, gases or combined. Covers

the nose, mouth and chin. It has inhalation and exhalation valves. It has in part or in its entirety filter material.

The gas filters will be placed inseparably from the mask, while the particle filters can be replaced.

Protects against gases, vapors and, in addition, designed to also protect against solid or liquid aerosols.
5- COMPLETE MASKS. EN136

A full facepiece is a piece of respiratory protection equipment that fits the worker's face and covers the eyes,

nose, mouth, and chin. In this way, it protects the worker from chemical contaminants that may be in the

environment that may enter the respiratory system and, in addition, that may irritate or affect the eyes of

said worker. In addition, this device allows the worker to talk with other colleagues.

It has a series of connectors that allow the passage of air, which enters the area of the mouth, nose and

eyes. Exhaled air can be exhausted through other connectors, exhalation valves, or other means.

6- HALF MASKS AND QUARTER MASK. EN140

It is a team that recovers the nose, mouth and chin. On rare occasions, what is called a quarter mask is used in

the construction sector, which only recovers the nose and mouth.

The air reaches the worker directly. The exhaled air is expelled either by means of one or more exhalation

valves, or by any other suitable means .

7- PROTECTIVE GLOVES AGAINST THERMAL RISKS

Thermal hazard gloves protect against burns from exposure to heat and/or flame in one or more of the
following ways: fire, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes, or large amounts of molten
metal.

This type of gloves must comply with the UNE-EN 420+A1 standard.

In relation to sizes, they will be those included in the UNE-EN 420+A1 standard, with the particularity that
(unless the user requests different requirements), gloves with protection levels 3 and 4 must be designed
and manufactured in a that can be easily removed in an emergency.

For performance levels of contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat and small splashes of molten metal, 3
or 4 the product must reach at least level 3 in the flame behavior test. Otherwise, the maximum
performance level against contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat and small splashes should be recorded
as level 2.

8- PROTECTIVE GLOVES AGAINST MECHANICAL RISKS

The UNE-EN ISO 388 standard applies to gloves intended to protect against mechanical and physical risks

caused by abrasion, cut, perforation and impact (optional). Tear resistance is not an indication of protection

against a specific risk, but rather it offers information on the mechanical resistance of the glove. A high tear

test value is a positive indication that the glove is strong and durable .

9- Security shoes.
 It is equipped with a reinforcement on the toecap, which may or may not be metallic, and protects the toes
from shocks and crushing due to compression. This type of footwear meets the basic requirements of EN ISO
20345.
The toe cap reinforcement must guarantee protection against an impact with an energy level of 200 J and
resist the compression of a load of 15 kN.
The marking symbol for safety footwear that meets the basic requirements is SB.
Additionally, it can incorporate one or more protection features

10- Protective footwear

It is equipped with a reinforcement on the toecap, which may or may not be metallic, and protects the toes from
shocks and crushing due to compression. This type of footwear meets the basic requirements of EN ISO 20346

The toe cap reinforcement must guarantee protection against an impact with an energy level of 100 J and resist
the compression of a load of 10 kN.

The marking symbol for safety footwear that meets the basic requirements is PB.

Additionally, it may incorporate one or more protection features.

Safety helmets

Starting with the most obvious protective gear in terms of protecting the head, safety helmets, we find that all

that glitters is not gold. It seems simple and at first we can think that any helmet will serve us. However,
depending on the job and the tasks to be performed, one type of helmet or another will be necessary, since

there are different types:

11- Protective helmets for industry:

these are the protective helmets that we are most used to seeing. They are specially designed to protect the

worker against risks due to blows or falling objects at different levels, risks that can cause injuries to both the

head and neck. Our proposal is the PETZL brand vertex helmet. Widely used, for example, by professional

climbers and amateurs of this same sport.

12- hearing protection

Semi-aural earplugs have a rigid band or headband that provides gentle force to seal earplugs, either

pre-molded or mouldable, in the ear canal. When not in use, the headband can be hung around the

neck.

13- Ear muffs with hearing protection

Hearing protection earmuffs are easy to wear and consist of plastic and foam padded ear cushions that

are connected by a flexible headband. (These are different from the soft earmuffs you wear to keep out

the cold.) These reduce noise by completely covering both ears. There are sizes for adults and children.

Earmuffs are easier to wear correctly than earplugs, especially for young children.
 Earmuffs may not work as well for people who wear glasses or goggles because the temples of the

glasses can create gaps between the earmuff pad and the skull. If you wear glasses, make sure the

earmuffs seal properly. Certain hairstyles, hats, and facial hair can create gaps that make hearing

protection earmuffs less effective.

14- premolded earplugs

they are made of plastic, rubber or silicone. One type of premolded earplugs is hi-fi earplugs, also called

soft-attenuation earplugs. They have the same effect as turning down the volume on a stereo: the intensity of

the sound decreases evenly across all tones. You might find them useful in movie theaters and concerts, or at

other times when you want to appreciate the quality of the audio, but at the same time protect your hearing.

body protection

Body protection elements protect different parts of the body, to avoid direct contact with risk factors that

may cause injury or illness.

Body protection is based on the appropriate and necessary clothing, which must be used by a worker, user or

operator, in the different work areas, where they are exposed to risks that can reduce their ability to work

and their personal safety.

 15- reflective clothing

High visibility protection, vest-like products, are designed to ensure the wearer is visible when working near

moving vehicles, for example at docks or on highways. There are three basic shapes, each with reflective

stripes to make it visible in low light. For use in road works, urban roads, highways, civil protection, urban and

interurban cleaning services, park and garden maintenance personnel, emergencies, the automotive sector,

etc.

16- Disposable clothes

They are coveralls or gowns designed to reduce the risk of infection by microorganisms or for protection
when performing cleaning or maintenance activities.

17- Lumbar Protection

Lumbar protection, helps prevent muscle injuries, hernias, discomfort in the spine, back among others,

caused by inappropriate movements, poor posture and wrong positions when sitting; as well as excessive

weight lifting. The use of this type of product reduces the effort used in the different activities and

encourages and reinforces the habit of using safe and correct techniques for weight lifting and other efforts,

as well as sitting correctly, etc.

 height protection
Personal protection elements for work at height are essential to maintain the physical integrity of workers who

are exposed to a fall. This makes its use mandatory in this type of work activity.

We must recognize that work at height is one of the riskiest in industries, since it can cause the death of a

person if they fall from a great height. That is why it is so important to know the most necessary PPE for work

at height.

18-HARNESS

A fall arrest harness is a component of a fall arrest system consisting of a body grip device intended to

arrest falls. The fall arrest harness can be made up of bands, adjusters, buckles and other elements,

arranged and accommodated in a suitable way on the body of a person to support it during a fall and

after its arrest.

In other words, it is a system of resistant tapes that are placed directly on the worker's body (trunk and

legs), designed to stop a fall from height and, subsequently, hold the person who has suffered the fall

until the moment of your rescue.

19-ANCHORAGE

An anchor is nothing more than a fixing to a supporting structure. Part of these components, on

occasions, can form part of the support structure itself permanently without the option of dismantling

(by welding, by fixing with resin, or by placement prior to concreting, etc.) but in others they will be

removable components and considered PPE by the norm.

20-work pants

There are several types of work pants depending on the activity carried out by the worker.

They can be differentiated between those elastic pants with multi-pockets for carpentry, for

example, and pants made of more rigid fabrics for those jobs exposed to chemical agents such

as painting.