PPE, or personal protective equipment, are literal lifesavers for those in many different industries. In fact, in any type of industry that requires manual handling, you’ll find all manner of PPE. Hi-viz jackets, hard hats, and even latex gloves and goggles are all considered PPE, helping to protect employees from hazardous materials or potentially unsafe working environments.
For those who work for surface finishing industries, they are required to wear several different kinds of PPE, so let’s take a closer look at what these are.
Blast Helmets
Blast helmets are incredibly durable helmets that are designed to offer wearers maximum head and face protection in harsh conditions. In addition to their tough outer shell, blast helmets also provide sound protection, so that the wearer’s hearing isn’t damaged by blasting equipment.
Air Filtration
As you might imagine, being able to breathe freely is of great concern for both employees and employers. Air filtration systems work in conjunction with blast helmets to supply fresh, clean and breathable air to the wearer, filtering out harmful contaminants.
Blast Suits
Protecting the body is of the utmost importance for those preparing and finishing surfaces. A blast suit, then, is an absolute must. These totally cover the wearer from the neck down, designed to allow full body movement, and are generally reinforced in areas expected to see a large amount of wear or splash damage, such as at the chest, arms and legs. They are generally worn alongside blast gloves to protect the wearer’s hands while working.
Air Testing and Monitoring
We’ve already noted the importance of being able to breathe in environments where air is not particularly oxygenated, or is corrupted. Air testing and monitoring kits, which often run on rechargeable batteries, allow surface finishers to remain vigilant to the levels of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and other contaminants in the air.
Respiratory Masks
There are a wide range of respiratory masks available, from those that cover only the mouth and nose, to full face masks. The choice between the two is job-dependant, but both allow the wearer to breathe, whilst ensuring full and unimpeded vision so they can safely concentrate on the task at hand. Respiratory masks prevent harmful fumes, gases, vapours and other contaminants that might accidentally be breathed in from entering the lungs of the wearer.
There are two vital aspects for anyone working as a surface finisher: good training and excellent personal protective equipment. The two, in fact, go hand in hand, and will always be of the utmost importance to any reputable company looking to keep their employees safe and able to carry out a task to its fullest. PPE such as those listed allow them to do precisely that, offering unparalleled protection whilst ensuring they can get the work done to a high possible standard.