And How to Choose Your PPE Online
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom May 21, 2021 (Issuewire.com) - Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects the user against health and safety risks at work. It may include safety helmets, gloves, visors, eye protection, high visibility clothing, and safety footwear. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Where you are already using PPE in your work to protect against non-COVID-19 risks, you should continue to do so. Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their employees and customers in the workplace. COVID-19 is a different type of risk that you may normally face in a workplace and needs to be managed through social distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, effective cleaning, and suitable PPE.
Why Use PPE?
During COVID-19 in some sectors such as close contact workplaces including, hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports, and massage therapists, dress fitters, tailors, fashion designers, it will not be possible to social distance. To help mitigate the risk employers and the self-employed need to provide suitable PPE.
Employees should be trained in the appropriate use of PPE and provided with guidelines as to when and how it should be worn. Failure to properly protect employees at work may also lead to legal action against businesses, so it is vital to stay up to date as to what PPE may be necessary for your company and industry sector.
How to Choose Your PPE Online
Close Contact Service
For close contact services, eg, hairdressers, beauticians, and make-up artists, because of the time spent in close proximity to clients' face, mouth, and nose they should seek to protect their clients through the use of a clear visor/goggles and a Type II face mask. Clear visors cover the face and typically provide a barrier between the wearer and the client from respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing, or speaking. Visors must fit the user and be worn properly. They should cover the forehead, extend below the chin, and wrap around the side of the face. Both disposable and reusable clear visors are an option. A reusable visor must be cleaned and disinfected between each client.
Goggles may be used as an alternative to a clear visor when worn with a Type II face mask. Goggles must be close-fitting with no obvious opening or vents to allow droplets to enter the eyes.
Face coverings for clients
There is growing evidence that wearing a face-covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from COVID-19. In the context of COVID-19, a Face covering is something that safely covers the nose and mouth. These can be reusable or single-use. Individuals should wear face coverings in indoor places where social distancing is difficult and where they will come into contact with people they do not normally meet.
Health and Care Professionals
Those most at risk from COVID-19 are the professionals in the healthcare and social care sectors, as they are responsible for providing essential treatment and care for those confirmed to have COVID-19.
Any clinician or care worker in a hospital, primary care setting, including care homes who are within 2 meters of a possible or confirmed COVID-19 patient, should wear an apron, gloves, surgical mask, and eye protection based on the risk of transmission.
When carrying out aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) the WHO guidance recommends the use of FFP2 masks. The UK government has recommended the use of FFP3 for aerosol-generating procedures.
It is a legal requirement that employees required to wear tight-fitting masks must be Fit-tested by a competent person before first initial use.
Inadequate fit can reduce the protection provided and lead to immediate or long-term ill-health or can even put the RPE wearer's life in danger. For more information on Fit-testing please visit NIRPE.com.
Industry
Whether you work in agriculture, biochemistry or construction, if you previously used respiratory protective equipment to protect against dust, spray, and aerosols, you should continue to do so. It is essential to choose the respirator that is adequate for the hazard and that the employer ensures the respirator has been compliantly fit-tested.
Dental
For direct patient care, where the treatment is deemed to be non-aerosol generating, the following PPE is required
Disposable gloves, Disposable plastic apron, fluid-resistant Type II Surgical mask, eye protection/face visor.
If the work involves aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) the following is required
Disposable gloves, disposable fluid repellent gown, filtering facepiece respirator, eye protection /face visor.
To assist you with your requirements, NI-PPE.com has launched a chat function on the webshop which offers advice and guidance on the suitable PPE and RPE for your business.
Media Contact
Ni PPE
Strangford Park, Ards Business Centre, Jubilee Road
Source :Ni PPE
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
