As an employer, it's your responsibility to keep your employees safe. Of course, they also have a duty to follow regulations and play a part in keeping themselves and others safe while at work. However, to make it possible for them to do that, you need to provide the right equipment. Your employees require certain equipment to allow them to carry out their work safely, whether they're walking around a construction site or actively engaging in a hazardous task. But what 4 types of equipment might you need to supply for your staff, and what types of hazards do you need to take into account?
By Team Savant
Image: eskay lim
Equipment for Working at Heights
Any work carried out at height presents a number of risks, including the risk of falling. So it's vital that anyone carrying out this type of work, whether on a domestic building's roof or on an oil rig, has the right equipment to do it safely. This will likely include safety harnesses and other equipment designed for anchoring people in place and preventing falls. It might also mean having the right ladders or other equipment to reach the required height and come back down safely. All of this equipment also needs to be inspected regularly.
Head Protection
Head protection is a common type of safety equipment that might need to be worn in a variety of settings and situations. Employees don't necessarily need to be carrying out manual work to require a hard hat or helmet to protect them. Even those who are perhaps visiting or touring a site where construction work or industrial work is taking place may need protection. This is often achieved through the use of hard hats, which can be color-coded according to who is wearing them. Managers might wear one color, while visitors to the site wear another color, and so on.
Vision and Hearing Protection
Protecting the eyes and ears is often a priority for a range of work. Both can easily be damaged by different activities, so it's always important to provide the proper protection. This is likely to include goggles or face shields to protect the eyes and vision, or ear plugs and ear defenders to help prevent hearing loss. Employees should be provided with these items as a matter of course, and they should be rated to handle the hazards that the employees may be dealing with. For example, it's important to measure noise in decibels so appropriate protection can be chosen.
Safety as Part of the Uniform
Other safety essentials may need to be part of an employee's uniform. This could include full coverage of their body to protect their arms, legs, and torso. It may also be necessary to consider how to protect the employee's hands and feet with their uniform. Boots with steel toecaps and gloves designed for the environment and the activity being carried out can both deliver the required protection.
Supplying safety equipment to employees is a must. It's also crucial that you provide them with the proper training in how to use the equipment they're given.