Regardless of industry, manufacturers are always looking for ways to streamline processes and boost productivity. However, manufacturing plants and facilities are full of heavy-duty and noisy equipment, toxic substances, high-heat surfaces, and more that can be a danger to employees. Personal protective equipment (PPE) can help your business counteract the hazards inherent to these environments and maximize efficiency, all while keeping your workers healthy, happy, and comfortable. Learn more about PPE and its critical role in promoting efficiency and safety in manufacturing operations.

What Is PPE in Manufacturing?

Companies reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses by providing their staff with PPE. The term PPE covers a spectrum of safety garments, accessories, and equipment that collectively protect employees performing a range of tasks. Not only does PPE reduce the likelihood of accidents that can harm employees and slow down production in hazardous manufacturing environments, but it also protects the company against liability claims and fines for not complying with safety regulations.

PPE is designed to safeguard workers against everything from bright light and sharp edges to chemical exposure and toxic particulates. However, it’s critical to select the appropriate PPE for your application, mandate it in your facilities, and train staff on its proper usage and maintenance for peak effectiveness in protecting their health and safety.

Types of PPE in Manufacturing

Depending on your manufacturing environment and the operations taking place in your facilities, your staff may require one or multiple types of personal protective equipment.

Eye and Ear Coverings

Protective eyewear like safety glasses, visors and goggles protect the wearer’s eyes from particulates and material fragments, hazardous gases, vapors and liquids, and exceedingly bright light. They’re applicable for everything from milling stations that throw out sharp fragments of metal to welding operations giving off flashes of light and sparks.

Earmuffs and earplugs safeguard wearers’ ears from the loud and unpleasant noise that manufacturing equipment generates. Without adequate hearing protection, workers are vulnerable to headaches, tinnitus, and temporary or permanent hearing damage. Such noise can also distract them, reducing productivity at best or causing accidents at worst.

Hand and Skin Coverings

Work gloves protect workers’ hands from sharp or high-temperature surfaces that could otherwise cause cuts and burns. Hazmat suits, a full-body PPE option, are another alternative for preventing workers from coming into direct contact with corrosive or dangerous chemicals, acids, toxins, and more.

Respirators

Respirators are breathing masks that block potentially hazardous gases, vapors, fumes, liquids, particulates, or dust from being inhaled. Many different types of respirators are available to provide varying degrees of protection based on the intended environment, particle size, and filtering processes.

Fall Prevention and Protection

Staff working at dangerous heights can benefit from PPE like body harnesses. This equipment can help mitigate the risk of a fall and keep workers who’ve slipped from a great height from hitting the ground and sustaining injuries.

Benefits of PPE in Manufacturing

By equipping your manufacturing team with high-quality PPE and ensuring they use it properly, your company will benefit from:

  • Maximized safety. PPE’s primary benefit is that it protects employees from sharp surfaces, high-temperature equipment, hazardous chemicals, debris, and even excessive noise. Workers stay safer from accidents as well as serious or permanent injuries.
  • Enhanced efficiency and productivity. When employees wear the right PPE, they know they’re better protected and can more confidently and efficiently complete their work. Not having to take extra precautions allows workers to streamline processes and improve operational speeds and productivity.
  • Adherence to regulatory standards. Many industries have strict requirements regarding PPE, safety protocols, and acceptable noise exposure. The right PPE helps your organization comply with OSHA guidelines as well as any industry-specific standards.
  • Cost-effectiveness. The National Safety Council reports that worker injury costs in 2022 came to $167 billion for the year. PPE proactively saves companies money on medical bills, liability claims, non-compliance penalties, and lawsuits, not to mention lost productivity and unanticipated downtime.
  • Boosted employee morale. Workers who know their company is investing in their safety tend to feel more satisfied and comfortable in their workplace. As a result, PPE can raise company morale while increasing productivity and employee retention.

PPE Products From Jorgensen Company

Established in 1932, Jorgensen Company distributes high-quality PPE products to support employee safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in diverse working environments. Our manufacturing clients have access to a wide array of trusted safety and protection products, choosing from our meticulously procured catalog of:

  • First aid supplies
  • Respiratory gear
  • Protective clothing
  • Eye protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Confined Space Equipment

Our expert team can help you find a product solution tailored to your unique needs and application requirements. Contact us today to learn more about our PPE offerings for the manufacturing sector.

Comments are closed