Personal protective equipment, also known as PPE, plays a key role for employees of a company. And that role is to ensure protection during the work journey.
PPE is the acronym that means Personal Protective Equipment and as its name suggests, they are devices or items that serve to protect an employee against accidents at work.
Its use is mandatory in services that pose some type of risk to health. In this scenario, we can remember the civil construction sector, as well as the operational activities of factories.
According to Regulatory Standard nº 6 (NR 6), the company is obliged to provide employees, free of charge, with adequate equipment to carry out activities in the following situations:
- Whenever general measures do not offer complete protection against the risks of accidents at work and occupational diseases.
- While collective protection measures are being implemented.
- To handle emergency situations.
This analysis needs to be carried out by the Internal Commission for Accident Prevention (CIPA) together with the Specialized Service in Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine (SESMT).
PPE is also an item subject to inspection. The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) is responsible for this process. Even if the company does not comply with the rules, it may receive a fine. The amount varies from 3 to 50 minimum wages, depending on the severity of the situation.
Simply put, Personal Protective Equipment serves to provide safety to professionals during their work. This includes protection against accidents and even illnesses that may arise from occupation.
Some more important information about Personal Protective Equipment or PPE
NR 6 provides a list of PPE that fit for each function. It is divided according to the part of the body that the Personal Protective Equipment protects. Some of these most common items are:
- Head: Helmets and hood or balaclava.
- Eyes and face: Goggles, visors and welding mask.
- Hearing: Ear protectors, earplugs and earmuffs.
- Respiratory: Masks, filters and respirators.
- Trunk: Aprons and bulletproof vests.
- Upper limbs: Gloves, armbands, hoses and protective cream against agents and chemicals.
- Lower limbs: Footwear (boots, boots and sneakers, for example), socks, leggings and pants.
- Full body: overalls and other clothing that covers the entire body.
- Against falls: Belt and safety belt.
Not all PPE that should be available in your company. They vary according to the sector or even the level of employee exposure.
Regarding the advantages of your company investing in PPE, we can list the main one, which is employee safety.
But in addition, investing in Personal Protective Equipment increases productivity, as using the correct equipment will ensure better execution of the service. In addition, the number of employees who will need to be absent due to health problems will be smaller.
Another positive point for companies that invest in PPE is the strengthening of a good reputation. Companies that comply with good practices are well regarded in the market. This improves its image with the general public and, as a result, facilitates its search for investments and new partners.
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