Safety Isn’t Limitless

by Paul Deffenbaugh | 4 January 2021 12:00 am

Think about that critically for a moment. Do safety glasses prevent particles from entering the eye? Does fire-retardant (FR) clothing prevent the wearer from being burned? The answer to both of those questions is no, of course. The point is that PPE is designed to minimize consequences. It’s also, as any good safety person will tell you, the last line of defense. That’s a topic worth emphasizing when training any new group of employees, especially those who don’t have a ton of experience.

To better explain, let’s generalize a little

You take a job at an industrial site. When you show up on your first day, you’re handed a hard hat, safety glasses, safety-toed shoes, gloves and some hearing protection. You’re told to wear them every time you’re in the work area. It’s part of the uniform.

First off, providing PPE is commendable

Believe it or not, there are plenty of companies that would rather pinch pennies than invest in the safety of their employees. Even in today’s uberlegal, risk-adverse culture, there are more organizations than one might imagine who require their people to fend for themselves and buy their own protective gear. But that’s a topic for another article.

Most companies, though, do a fair job at providing what their employees need. The thing almost no one does is teach about limitations. As previously mentioned, PPE is the last line of defense. Safety professionals know that, but we often assume others do as well.

Unfortunately, not everyone has that prerequisite knowledge. Simply handing someone a helmet and goggles might insinuate that protection is guaranteed.

Never assume the simple things are understood

Up to this point everything in this article begs the question, “If PPE is last, what’s first?” To answer that, let’s explore a really dumb (and made-up) example.

You work for a small flooring contractor and score a job reflooring two floors of a high-rise simultaneously. The boss comes to you and says he wants to be able to communicate with the crews on both floors, so he wants you to cut a large hole in the higher floor, allowing him to communicate easily.

Since the large hole will create a dangerous fall hazard, you approach the request using the Hierarchy of Controls (see graphic), asking the boss the following:

You: Could we just eliminate the hole and use radios?

Boss: No, walls are too thick. Radios aren’t reliable.

You: Could we substitute the big hole with a little one?

(Silently, you also imagine using tin cans and a string to accommodate the ridiculous request.) Boss: No, I want to see the work being done below.

You: Could we put up guard rails around the hole?

Boss: No, it’s a two-day job, that would cost too much.

You: Why don’t we put up a big sign that says “DANGER: DON’T FALL IN THE BIG HOLE?”

Boss: That wouldn’t stop someone from falling in the hole.

You: You’re right. I guess the only thing left is to require everyone who enters the upper floor to wear a fall protection harness. That will require new equipment, training, a rescue plan and engineered anchorages to tie off to. Boss: (after a long pause) Fine, just use radios.

If nothing else, that dumb example should give you an idea of all the thought that should go into using PPE. Consider PPE from this perspective: It’s required because there’s a risk that can’t be removed from the work environment. When your people know that, they’re much more likely to use it correctly and consistently. They’ll also understand that the hazard is still very real and very dangerous.

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Jason Maldonado has worked as a safety and health professional for 17 years in a variety of industries. He is the owner and lead contributor of RelentlessSafety.com[1] as well as an accomplished author and speaker. His first book, “A Practical Guide to the Safety Profession: The Relentless Pursuit[2],” is available now.

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/safety-isnt-limitless/

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