Means of Personal Protection

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), refers to protective clothing, helmets or safety hats, goggles, safety shoes or other work clothing or equipment designed to protect the body of the wearer from injury, contamination or other risk to safety and health.

Statistics on accidents at work indicate the importance of protection and prevention where personal protective equipment plays an important role. In Greece, while the last 15 years have seen a decrease in (reported) accidents at work, the years 2013-2014 saw an increase, according to the latest available data for the period 2010-14.

The hazards against which Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is used to protect against include physical, electrical, thermal, chemical, biochemical, or airborne hazards. Protective equipment can be worn for occupational purposes, such as to ensure the health and safety of workers, but also for other purposes such as safety in sports and recreational activities or at home.

'Protective clothing' refers to traditional types of workwear such as gloves, safety shoes, work overalls with waistcoats or high-visibility reflective vests, while 'protective equipment ' refers to items such as inner garment liners, shields, face masks and disposable filter masks, earplugs and others.

National/European legislation and international standards relating to PPE

For the legal framework on occupational health and safety in Greece and for specific Standards (specifications that PPE must meet) you can contact the Hellenic Institute of Occupational Health & Safety (ELINYAE).

In the European Union, personal protective equipment is regulated by the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive 89/686/EEC and there is additional information on PPE, in terms of legal obligations to ensure that PPE in the European Union provides the highest level of protection against occupational hazards. The CE conformity mark attached to PPE provides evidence of this protection. According to the above Directive, the three main categories of PPE are:

1. Category Ι: simple design (e.g. gardening gloves)
2. Category ΙΙ: PPE not falling into categories I and III (e.g. personal flotation devices)
3. Category ΙΙΙ: complex design (e.g. filter masks)

International standards relating to PPE can be obtained from ELOT and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

When and how we use PPE

The purpose of PPE is to reduce the exposure of workers to risks when these risks cannot be controlled or reduced to an acceptable level by technical means, administrative controls or collective protection measures. PPE does not address the source or origin of the risk but is required where the risk exists. In essence, they are a kind of barrier between the user and the working environment.

PPE must be appropriate to the risks, the working environment and be correctly adapted to the user. There are basic obligations both on the part of employers who issue PPE to their staff and on the part of the workers who use it. In particular, the obligations for PPE are as follows:

• Informing workers of the risks to their health and the measures they must take to protect themselves.
• Providing workers with appropriate PPE with instructions for its correct and effective use.
• Checking the proper and effective use of PPE by workers.
• Ensuring that PPE is maintained, repaired and cleaned or disinfected or sterilised where this is necessary for reasons of hygiene.
• Ensure that PPE is stored in special places or areas with good cleanliness and hygiene conditions.
• Arrange for the immediate replacement of PPE where the type of PPE or its advanced deterioration so requires.

Obligations of workers

• Use PPE whenever necessary to protect their safety and health.
• Reporting to supervisors any observed anomalies or other causes that warrant the repair, cleaning or replacement of PPE.

Source: http://www.teetdk.tee.gr/docs/asfaleia_sep03/map.pdf
You can obtain more detailed information on PPE requirements from ELINYAE.

Personal protective equipment for safety at work

Personal Protective Equipment is categorised according to the area of the body protected, as well as the types of hazards and the type of clothing or accessories. A single item could offer multiple protection against different hazards and a typical example is S3 safety shoes: with carbon fibre or steel toe and sole to protect the foot from falling objects or puncture injuries, rubber and inner lining to protect against water and chemicals, anti-slip sole and electrical resistance to protect against electric shock.

As each type of PPE meets different needs, the following basic categories are given as an indication:

Head Protective Equipment

The risks of head injury are extremely important and are addressed by appropriate helmets or safety hats.

Hearing protectors are a major concern in the field of headgear and are often equipped with helmets or headgear with protective headgear.

Noise at work is often overlooked as an occupational hazard because it is 'invisible'. However, hearing protection is important for the health of the user in both the medium and long term.

Eye and Face Protection

There are hazards that can cause significant damage to the face and especially to the eyes of the user and these can be addressed with appropriate face masks, goggles or shields.

Respiratory protective equipment

Respiratory protective devices serve to protect the user from inhaling contaminants or harmful substances in the air to ensure the health of the respiratory system.

Hand and Arm Protective Equipment

In essence, they are a sub-category of the more general type of 'protective clothing'. Special arm covers and, of course, appropriate types of gloves ensure that the wearer is protected according to the requirements of the job and the working environment.

Foot and shin guards

They also belong to the general type of 'protective clothing'. There are different types of safety footwear which are intended to protect the wearer from various hazards. Find out more about safety shoes and other foot and shin guards.

Protective devices for the trunk and abdomen

These are another sub-category of the 'protective clothing' type and are used when the wearer's normal clothing is in danger of, for example, becoming soiled or damaged.

Full-body protectors

There are PPE worn as a set or as a single garment that protects the wearer from various hazards. A typical example is full body suits and aprons.

Axion Cotton has in-depth know-how and many years of practical experience in PPE.

We serve companies of all sizes and in all sectors, always respecting European Standards and the specific needs of each company. To help you with practical solutions for your business, contact us.

Resources

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_protective_equipment
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_of_personal_protective_equipment
- http://www.elinyae.gr/el/lib_file_upload/_MesaAtomikisProstasias.1113226932054.pdf
- http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EL/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:31989L0686&from=EN
- http://www.teetdk.tee.gr/docs/asfaleia_sep03/map.pdf

Useful links about Personal Protective Equipment and Occupational Health and Safety in general:
- http://www.elinyae.gr/el/index.jsp
- http://www.elot.gr/