Consider Fashion, Fit, Comfort And Performance When Selecting PPE

by Dave Matela, Kimberly-Clark Professional

According to a survey Kimberley-Clark conducted at last year’s National Safety Congress, 89% of safety professionals polled have observed workers failing to wear PPE when it was necessary. Discomfort was found to be the chief cause of noncompliance.

Consider Wearability
If coveralls don’t provide breathability, if safety glasses fog up, if protective gloves don’t allow for hand dexterity or if respirator straps are tight and painful to wear, users will avoid wearing the PPE or will modify it in some way, compromising its protective features.

Appearance Matters
When it comes to style, a range of color and style options gives workers some control over how they look. When people are content with their appearance, they are more likely to wear the PPE without modification.

Think Comfort
For garments to be comfortable, the size and cut must meet the needs of a diverse workforce. Garments should offer a generous cut that exceeds ANSI minimum sizing standards, especially across the shoulders and key stress areas like the torso and crotch. Comfort and fit are also important for other types of PPE such as eye protection, gloves and respirators.

For additional information and resources on compliance with PPE protocols, visit the OSHA website at osha.gov and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website at cdc.gov/niosh.

[Reprinted with permission by Kimberly-Clark Professional Education. Dave Matela is a senior category manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional, based in Roswell, GA. Kimberly-Clark is known for innovative safety solutions for “clean” and “industrial” manufacturing settings. With the acquisition of Jackson Safety, Kimberly-Clark offers an even broader range of PPE and other safety offerings, including market-leading welding and work zone safety products. For more information, visit kc-safety.com.]