PPE Learning Lite: The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment

1. Personal Protective Equipment - PPE Learning Lite

2. PPE…..The last defense! • Why is personal protective equipment (PPE) important? • We all know the answer, right? All together now: “Because it protects workers from injury!” • But why do we have to wear it? • We need to wear it when not all risk can be removed from our working environment • So…simply put…It’s our last defense

3. Why Workers Resist Wearing PPE • PPE is a component in at least two of the top-ten violations according to HSE figures: fall protection and respiratory protection • In 2006 Kimberly-Clark Professional conducted a survey among attendees of a US National Safety Council Congress, asking if respondents had ever observed workers failing to wear PPE when they should have. Eighty-seven percent said that they had

4. Why Workers Resist Wearing PPE • The reasons? • PPE was uncomfortable (according to 62% of respondents) • PPE was not necessary for the task • PPE was too hot • PPE was unattractive looking

5. Do we all do it… all of the time? • We hear comments like these on site… • “Wear your PPE because it says so in the safety rule book” • “Do as you are told” • “It costs a lot of money” • “You were trained to do it, so do it” • These comments don’t work and don’t help • We need to look at why people do the things they do…. what drives people’s behaviour

6. What If… • We were to tell you that you can now decide whether or not to wear your PPE • Wearing your PPE was entirely your own decision • The impacts of not wearing your PPE were entirely your own risk • There would not be any support for any injury that would have been avoided by wearing PPE

7. That question answered… • We know that when a choice is presented we tend to choose the right thing to do • Most people would elect to wear there PPE if given the choice • So….

8. …why don’t people wear it then? Accidents won’t happen to me It’s never been an issue before I’ve always done it this way It’s never been an issue before I forgot it It’s dirty Waiting for the delivery It’s in the site cabin – don’t have time to get it It’s only a 5 minute job Personal Perception of Risk and Time vs Risk

9. What can you do?...Lead by example • Walk the Talk • SHOW your peers and co-workers that you are not above the rules and regulations by using PPE in your workplace wherever it is required • SHOW your workers where to obtain the appropriate PPE and take the time to SHOW them how to don and use it correctly • EXPLAIN to them that their contribution and hard work is valued and that remaining injury free is everyone’s priority • Recognise people for doing the right thing

10. What can you do?...Why we work safe… • Try setting up a “Why I Work Safe” board somewhere on site • This is a board that the workforce can pin up pictures of their loved ones to SHOW as a reminder - every time they walk by - to work safe and go home safe • It serves as a visual reminder and reinforces the message. • It can be a picture of their car, cat, child, husband, wife or anything …. Really!

11. We are all wearing it… now what? • Make sure you SHOW each worker how to; • Properly maintain and store their PPE • Inspect PPE for wear, tear, and malfunctions • Get it replaced • Let them know that PPE won’t work if it’s broken, in disrepair, or not cared for properly

12. What did we learn? • Until now, you might have thought that telling your workers to wear PPE was the best or only way • We must form partnerships with individuals in order to foster the efficient and safe work environment • One critical element in the context of that environment is an effective PPE program • Understanding why people do the things they do, helps us to work with them to understand what needs to change and ultimately to change it • While the art of verbal persuasion can be a valuable tool SHOWING your workers by setting an example and conducting effective training can go a long way in achieving success • Visible reminders of why we want and need to worksafe and what’s important to us will help