Safety industries is universally affected by the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) they may decide to opt for at any point in time.HSE and RPE, features to consider during selection is then very important.
Just like PPE have various features to consider before purchasing them for usage during work operation, likewise is RPE. These features are what make it easy or difficult to use.
When a Respiratory Protective Equipment is difficult to use, it does not only slow down the output of the operations to be performed but concurrently makes the work tedious and stressful for the employee.
We will be discussing features that HSE Personnel and Professional should consider before purchasing RPE for organization usage.
1. Comfortability.
Comfortability in this point means if it’s is right for the Employees, the task and the environment .
These three work hands in hand. One can not go without the other. Buying a RPE that is suitable for the wearer but not suitable for the task or the environment is like giving the Employees a job that can be done easily but then the company chose to make it difficult for them to perform easily and immediately.
2. Integrity and Conformity with product.
Many at times, companies opt for PPE just because that is what is available and of course those PPE can be managed but unlike PPE, RPE should be used base on the manufacturer’s conformity and integrity.
The need to buy a RPE which will not be used according to the guideline which is started by the manufacturer may incur great damage to the company or the worker in question.
3. Manufacturer Usage Rating
Different RPE have different level of protection, the need to be aware of manufacturer’s usage Rating is very important. E.g You can not put into continuous usage of RPE that is meant to be disposed after at one time usage. It will not only affect the functionality of the RPE, it may end up incurring more damage on the user during operations .
4. Usage techniques
Most safety Respiratory Protective Equipment are wore wrongly and this reduce their functionality and effectiveness. A typical example is the use of Face Mask.
Usage techniques initiate the Employees on how to use this RPE ( Should be use full mouth or half mouth), (full face or half face). All this is necessary when purchasing Respiratory protective equipment.
HSE personnel should be aware of all this required features when purchasing RPE, as they do not only reduce the stress employees go through while working but also ensure safety which is the most important duty of HSE industry to it workers.
HSENations
